Category: News

A News Post on something that has happened

Bledisloe Lane Upgrade

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Upgrading a windy cold place into a more people friendly place

 

From Auckland Council

Bledisloe Lane transformation underway

Work has started on the upgrade of Bledisloe Lane to deliver an improved city centre laneway and enhanced access to Bledisloe House.

A popular thoroughfare for inner city workers, theatre-goers and tourists, the lane which connects Wellesley Street to Aotea Square has often been criticised for its dark recesses and gloomy, dated appearance.

The upgrade will transform the lane into a brighter and safer connection with new paving, a new glass canopy and façade to Bledisloe House at ground level and includes an upgraded pocket park on Wellesley Street. The existing canopy which significantly limits natural light will be removed in stages between June and September.

The upgrade also aligns with the relocation of the council’s Customer Service Centre from the Civic Building to the ground floor of Bledisloe House later this year. The introduction of new value-added interactions such as self-service kiosks, combined with the new location on the popular walking route, is set to deliver a new standard of service delivery for the centre.

Both projects share the vision of enhancing the public’s experience of Bledisloe Lane.

Auckland Council design champion Ludo Campbell-Reid says the upgrade is one of the many council projects realising the City Centre Masterplan vision to create a vibrant, better connected city centre that showcases Auckland as the world’s most liveable city.

He says Bledisloe Lane is a hugely important segment of what is described as the city centre pedestrian laneway circuit running from Aotea Square to the Waterfront.

“Currently the lane is well used, but its poor design quality does not encourage pedestrians to linger and enjoy the space,” says Mr Campbell-Reid.

“This situation does not fit well with the creative vibrant nature and potential of the Aotea Quarter cultural and entertainment precinct, or the kind of experience we want our Service Centre customers to have.

“Our plans to redevelop the lane, introduce a new service centre and redesign the Wellesley Street pocket park will transform the pedestrian experience”.

The design also considers future upgrades to Wellesley Street and the proposed site of the Aotea City Rail Link Station on Albert Street.

To expedite the construction works and ensure public safety the lane will be closed to pedestrians from late June to late September. Intermittent access will be allowed depending on construction occurring that day however customer access to New Zealand Post, Metro Centre and Bledisloe House main entrance will be maintained throughout construction.

The lane upgrade is expected to be complete later in the year.

Information about the upgrade project and pedestrian access during works is available on the Auckland Council website aucklandcouncil.govt.nz – search ‘Bledisloe Lane’.

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I am always a fan of the glass canopy in walking thoroughfares especially if you want to encourage people to linger on days like we having right now.

Manukau Mall Station and the Manukau Metro Town Centre (looking West to East) Reference for the Sketch Up Pocket Park: http://land8.com/photo/athens-urban-park-exparking/next?context=user
Manukau Transport Interchange Development Alternative

 

 

 

Tweet of the Day

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Pays to check in advance

 

So Auckland Transport has a nice “little” launch for their new Travelwise program in which the Mayor was attending and even speaking to the gathering. Well in his presentation this happened:

 

Oh dear someone cue the crickets…

I do not know what is more sad?

The fact no one put their hand up which shows as an indictment from our transport failings over the last 25 years, or someone forgot to check prior to the Mayor asking that rather embarrassing question…

 

Oh if you are wondering why I have not been forgiving a particular department of Auckland Transport (no not the Planning and Strategy division which I have never had issues with and actually enjoy a good relationship with) this week then check this in response to the shuttle situation from the AT CEO and see why:

 

Update: I was writing this up this happened outside the Travel Wise event:

Hopefully and by the looks of it the cyclist is okay. But with the cyclist in a bus lane where cars shouldn’t technically be and wearing hi-viz and still gets hit by a car you wonder why children do not cycle to and from school.

 

One Minute on How to Shape Auckland Over the Next Ten Years

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Opportunity for Under 25’s to enter Council Competition

 

From Auckland Council

Auckland’s young filmmakers given one minute to shape 10 years

 

Auckland’s under 25s could win a share of $7000 prize money through Auckland Council’s latest youth video challenge. The videos must be under one minute, and say what Auckland needs to invest in to become the world’s most liveable city.

Filmmakers have from 30 June to midnight 20 July to submit their video. Finalist’s videos will be put on YouTube, with the winners being those with the most views. First place will receive a $3000 prize.

“Auckland is preparing for its biggest ever investment in its future. There are plans for better ways to get around, how we treat our environment, events and things that will make our neighbourhoods safer, and also things that will create new opportunities for young people,” says Auckland Council’s youth advocate, Councillor Linda Cooper.

“This is our chance to hear from our young people about what’s most important to them – for their local areas as well as Auckland as a whole.”

Councillor Cooper says, “It doesn’t matter what you use to film it – a mobile phone is fine. What’s important is the thinking behind it and taking a chance to have your say and shape Auckland’s future; to say what sort of city you want to live in.”

The top videos will be used through the coming year to help encourage other Aucklanders to get engaged in choices around Auckland’s 10- year spending plan, the Long-term Plan 2015-2025, which sets out how much the council will spend, what on, where and when.

Videos can cover local issues or those affecting Auckland as a whole. Entrants can check out visions and ideas for local areas when local board plans are launched for consultation on 7 July.

There is also regional pride at stake, with Wellington City Council set to run a similar competition later in July.

For more information on the video competition, visit shapeauckland.co.nz

 

The rules to enter are:

  1. you have from 30 June to 20 July to make your video, answering the question: “What should Auckland spend money on to become the world’s most liveable city?”
  2. videos must be one minute or less
  3. you can use a mobile phone or whatever you want to make it. But you must send it to us in .mp4 or .mov format
  4. you can make one by yourself, one with your friends or both – and you can enter as many times as you want.

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Let see what the youth of Auckland can come up with 😀