Street and utility upgrades in Wynyard Quarter will require road closures on sections of Halsey and Gaunt Streets from late May 2015 to mid-2016, and Pakenham and Madden Streets from mid-2015 to mid-2017.
These major works are part of the transformation of Wynyard Quarter to create a vibrant and accessible waterfront, as well as to accommodate future growth in the area.
They are being undertaken by Auckland Transport, Auckland Council, Waterfront Auckland and Watercare and involve wastewater and stormwater upgrades and street refurbishments.
Due to the complexity and scale of the works road closures are necessary on Halsey and Gaunt Streets, and staged road closures on Pakenham and Madden Streets.
Motorists are advised to expect delays when travelling through and around Wynyard Quarter and to consider walking, cycling or public transport as an alternative.
I was forwarded the following article on the Dutch city of Nijmegen not only engineering to combat flooding but also using that engineering (and planning) to literally build a new city core as well.
An extract from CityLab:
A Dutch City Makes Room for Its River and a New Identity
Nijmegen is turning a flood-control project on the River Waal into an opportunity to redevelop its inner core.
NIJMEGEN, The Netherlands — In this city along the River Waal, this year marks the 20th anniversary of a scary event that quite nearly turned into a catastrophe.
Heavy rains upstream in France and Germany, where the river is known as the Rhine, sent a surge of water toward Nijmegen. The city of 170,000 people is protected by dikes. But as the waters rose and fear built that the dikes would break, many people and cattle in and around Nijmegen evacuated. Luckily, the dikes held, and after several harrowing days, the water level dropped again.
There’s two reasons why. First, Nijmegen is not simply raising or strengthening its dikes, which might seem like the obvious solution. Instead, it is moving some dikes back from the river, essentially creating a much wider floodplain. Into that floodplain, excavators and cranes are carving a new channel for the River Waal. That channel is broadening the river—and giving future floodwaters more room to flow without threatening the city.
The second reason is that all this engineering work is creating a whole lot more than flood control. Construction of the new channel also means that a new island is being made in the middle of the Waal. The island’s elevation is high enough in some spots that it will be possible to construct a whole new section of the city here, along with parks and nature areas.
Meanwhile, a new neighborhood is rising across the river from the city center, bringing some balance to the urban development on both sides of the river. And four new bridges are being built, connecting the new island to both sides of the river. When it is all done, Nijmegen will have a new urban heart in the middle of the very river that has occasionally threatened its existence.
“For the first time,” says Alderman Bert Velthuis, “the city center will actually be in the middle of the city.”
Never underestimate the Dutch in their creativity with planning and engineering. In saying that though they were quite amused and have taken up our own created term of #quaxing (in honour of our Dutch born Councillor Dick Quax) to recognise doing the shopping by active and public transport modes.
Public invited to watch as well From Auckland Zoo and its partners: Rare takahē to be released on Rotoroa Two of New Zealand’s critically endangered takahē will be released onto … Continue reading Rare Takahē to be released on Rotoroa
Celebrating Samoan Language Week From Auckland Council: Fa’atauaina o le Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa – Sāmoan Language Week at Auckland Libraries O le Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa – … Continue reading Sāmoan Language Week at Auckland Libraries
Devonport Library smashes records in first three months
Three months in and Devonport’s new library is smashing records for visitor numbers, WiFi use and new memberships.
Te Pātaka Kōrero o Te Hau Kapua, the new Devonport Library, has drawn a record number of visitors, with 93,369 visits between February and April this year. There were 27,289[1] visitors during the same months in 2014, and 45,514 during that period in 2013.
Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Chair Joseph Bergin says the community has embraced its new library and the positive feedback has been overwhelming.
“The number of people signing up for library cards has surged, with 532 people registering in the last three months,” he says.
In 2014, there were only 64 new memberships during this period, and 153 in the same period during 2013.
WiFi sessions have increased by 1004 percent, from 1,338 in February to April 2014 to 14,773 since the new library opened.
Auckland Libraries and Information General Manager Allison Dobbie says “We are thrilled that Devonport’s fantastic new library is being enjoyed by so many people.
“The building responds to changes in customer expectations of self service, digital and e-book delivery, and space to meet, relax and think.”
The brand new building on 2 Victoria Road was opened on 2 February with a dawn blessing lead by mana whenua. A civic opening celebration was held on 26 February.
With high ceilings and a mezzanine floor area, the library has 950m2 of floor space, but sits within the same footprint as the former library on Windsor Reserve.
Local boards unite in call to remove charges for central sports fields
Sports clubs in the former Auckland City Council area shouldn’t have to pay to use sports fields when clubs elsewhere in Auckland don’t, say the chairs of Orākei, Albert-Eden and Waitematā local boards.
The three board chairs asked Auckland Council’s Parks, Sports and Recreation Committee on Tuesday to remove charges for booking sports fields in central Auckland. The committee agreed to take a case to council’s Finance and Performance Committee.
“We are asking council to correct this inequity as soon as possible as this disparity has been in place for too long,” says Orākei Local Board Chair Desley Simpson, who led the delegation.
“It’s not fair that nearly five years on from the formation of Auckland Council, sports clubs in one area should pay to use sports fields, where clubs in other areas enjoy free use. We look forward to a positive resolution for our clubs and their members.”
“Sport and recreation should be as accessible as possible for all Aucklanders, no matter where they live. One of council’s priorities is promoting individual and community well-being through recreation and sport. The current charging policy disadvantages sports clubs in the areas we represent,” says Waitematā Local Board Chair Shale Chambers.
“Sports clubs generally don’t have large budgets. Clubs can better spend their limited funds on equipment and attracting new members,” says Albert-Eden Local Board Chair Peter Haynes.
—ends—
So should they pay while the rest of us don’t? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Talking Southern Auckland 