Brendan Coates from the Grattan Institute was at it again this week, calling on Australia’s major cities to copy Auckland and open up to high-density development:
“The core problem when it comes to housing in Melbourne, is that in a lot of the most attractive areas – where people most want to live, with the best transport infrastructure and other urban amenities – it is very hard, if not impossible, to build more housing”, Coates said.
He said in 2016 Auckland embarked on a radical plan to upzone 75% of residential land, which tripled the city’s dwelling capacity, led to a surge in construction and spared the region from ballooning house prices and rents.
