Looking at Urban Planning and Design
Cities are Organic and Constantly Evolving Organisms With the Unitary Plan Hearings under way it is quite interesting although somewhat mundane going through the Hearing Panel’s Submission Points all set … Continue reading Property Rights and the Unitary Plan
Finance and Performance Committee, and Governing Body Minutes up The unconfirmed Minutes (they are confirmed at the following meeting) of both the Governing Body, and the Finance and Performance … Continue reading Council Minutes Up
Using the Resource Management Act Reforms to help mitigate/remedy child poverty The question you would be first asking is: “how can the reforms of the Resource Management Act help … Continue reading Mitigating Child Poverty via the RMA Reforms
Auckland Conservation: A Design Led City Last week Auckland Council held an “Auckland Conversation” around building a City led by design. The presentation was given by Auckland Design Champion … Continue reading Lets Build a City by Design
Council Approves to Dispose of Land in Manukau City Centre Earlier today I blogged on the Auckland Council Finance and Performance Committee looking at selling off land it (the Council … Continue reading Council Votes to Sell off the Future of Southern Auckland [Updated]
Better Development Opportunities Do Present Themselves This afternoon the Council Finance and Performance Committee will meet. One of the agenda items is to “authorise” Auckland Council Property Limited (ACPL) … Continue reading Council Sells Land – Which It Should NOT in One Case
By Parking an Ambulance at the Bottom of the Cliff Auckland Council has finally respond to the violence issues which are plaguing West Auckland at the moment. Council’s solution? … Continue reading Council Responds to West Auckland Violence Issues
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
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.
….
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.
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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.
Some would think yes – and just not for the West either The issue has been brewing away for a while and I have mentioned it both in the … Continue reading Is the City Centre Revamps at the Expense of the West
On Urban Development in Southern Auckland I posted this to Councillor Dick Quax earlier yesterday on Facebook: Dick Quax I have a thought for you to consider. The Unitary … Continue reading What If – We Go Full Throttle
Talking Southern Auckland 
