Category: Planning

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Helping Out Our Neighbours

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Cash for help promote active transport

 

Walking and cycling is about to become more attractive in the suburb of Mangere thanks to the Mangere-Otahuhu Local Board, Auckland Transport, and NZTA stepping up and investing in better walk/cycleways around the Mangere Town Centre Area.

From the NZ Herald

$7m walking and cycling plan to get residents of deprived area out of cars

By Mathew Dearnaley 5:00 AM Tuesday Sep 23, 2014

 

Mangere Central, one of the country’s most economically and socially challenged enclaves, is in line for an urban project that will make walking and cycling safer.

Researchers with a $3 million government grant have spent 18 months getting close to the community to discover what it would take to get residents out of their cars and into healthier exercise habits.

They are backed to the hilt by the Mangere-Otahuhu Local Board, which has voted to spend about $1.7 million on three projects which will among other things form a 2km recreational walking and cycling circuit from Mangere town centre, taking in Windrush Reserve and Mascot Ave.

The reserve has a bad crime record, including a history of sex attacks, but board chairwoman Lydia Sosene hopes opening it up as part of a circuit with good lighting and see-through fences will encourage more people including family groups to use it for fitness and recreation as well as easier access to the town centre.

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Ms Sosene expected the initiative to be “a huge game changer” which would lift her community by making it safer and easier to get moving.

Future streets

What it is: Urban design, public health and road safety project for Mangere Central.
What it will cost: About $7 million (including a $3 million four-year government research grant).
When changes will be seen: From next year.

Source: http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/infographics/357/carmangere.jpg

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The Full article can be seen here: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11329562

 

I take my hat off to the Mangere-Otahuhu Local Board for driving this campaign to improve the street and urban landscape one bit at a time to encourage more people being active in their community and less reliant on the car.

Now to get small schemes like this rolled out City wide.