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The aim of this project was to identify and implement a sustainable, formal, and funded model for the City Centre Residents Group (CCRG) to enhance resident engagement and ensure equitable representation in Auckland's City Centre.
The Challenge
The City Centre Residents Group (CCRG), a volunteer-led organisation established in 2005, has been instrumental in advocating for city centre residents in discussions about the City Centre Targeted Rate (CCTR). However, with the city centre's growth and increasing demands, their volunteer-based model has become unsustainable. Key challenges include a lack of consistent funding, limited volunteer capacity for effective advocacy, and a representation gap that does not fully reflect the diverse inner-city population. This limits residents' voices from being adequately heard and considered alongside other influential stakeholders, such as business associations.
The Solution
TUA contributed to addressing this challenge by developing a comprehensive business case that evaluates various models for strengthening resident voices and building community in the city centre. The proposed solution involves transitioning the CCRG to a formal, funded model with clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), auditing, and yearly reporting.
This includes establishing an elected board representing city centre neighbourhoods and employing paid staff to support operations and engagement. TUA's work also focused on reviewing the City Centre Targeted Rate (CCTR) funding mechanisms to increase resident contributions and exploring diverse funding options to ensure long-term sustainability.
By enhancing resident representation, the project aims to achieve more equitable outcomes, foster a thriving and sustainable Auckland City Centre, and build trust in democratic processes by providing early and authentic community input on major projects.
The Journey
TUA facilitated a co-design approach with the CCRG committee, to workshop and assess various options for their future structure, ensuring their insights were central to the business case development.
The project also adopted a structured business case approach, covering strategic, economic, commercial, financial, and management cases. This comprehensive evaluation ensured a robust assessment of the need for investment, value for money, viability, affordability, and achievability of the proposed solutions. TUA emphasised aligning the proposed solutions with Auckland Council's strategic goals, including fostering thriving communities, supporting residential growth, and ensuring inclusive participation in civic processes, thereby increasing the likelihood of council support and successful implementation.
