Seven Projects Under Active Consideration I caught a Tweet from Transport Blog stating that the Government was looking at speeding up a suite of motorway projects: Government motorway package … Continue reading NZTA to Speed up some Transport Construction Projects?
Nitty Gritty, but Crucial Once the new Council is sworn in, the Auckland Plan Committee all settled down and its first meeting out of the road we should be … Continue reading Ready, Set, Go – Area Plans
News on Electrification and Manukau South Rail Link One thing Talking Auckland takes pride in is quality investigative blogging on issues that affect Auckland the most. When something does … Continue reading Latest Transport Updates
I had received some feedback in regards to the Auckland Electrification Project – specifically around delays and setbacks. I sent some questions to Auckland Transport who have replied this morning in regards to the Electrification roll out (the infrastructure not the EMU trains).
While I will need to follow-up with Kiwi Rail in regards to Electrification completion on the Eastern Line (from Westfield Junction to Britomart), Newmarket to Britomart and Britomart Station itself I do have confirmation of extended closures on the rail line south of Otahuhu Station starting this coming Friday.
As Southern Auckland rail commuters are aware, from May 27 this year the rail line between Otahuhu and Papakura (including the Manukau Line and Station) would close at 8:30pm – Sunday to Thursday. That means the 8:10pm Britomart to Papakura va Newmarket service is the last full service through to Papakura. After 8:30pm your train will go as far on the Eastern, Southern and Manukau Lines to Otahuhu where you will need to transfer to a Rail Bus to finish your journey. The closure is to allow continued work on the Electrification project in the area.
However this “ramp down” as we call it in the rail transport trade is now to occur seven days a week until the Christmas-New Year Close Down Auckland is use too for the last several years. That means: the 8:10pm Britomart to Papakura va Newmarket service is the last full service through to Papakura. After 8:30pm your train will go as far on the Eastern, Southern and Manukau Lines to Otahuhu where you will need to transfer to a Rail Bus to finish your journey – SEVEN DAYS A WEEK starting this week.
So again
From this coming Friday 11th October 2013 until the Christmas/New Close Down, from 8:30pm – seven days a week (unless otherwise stated by Auckland Transport such as a Special Event); Southern, Eastern and Manukau Line Trains will only run between Britomart and Otahuhu. To go further south (or to come north from south of Otahuhu) you will need to complete/start your journey on a rail bus. Western and Onehunga Line not affected by this ramp down.
First General Overview starting with The Centres, Terraced Housing and Apartment Zone, and Mixed Housing Urban Zone Coming back to one of the more if not the most critical … Continue reading What I would like to see in the Operative Unitary Plan – Residential and Centres
I noticed a Facebook status from Councillor Cathy Casey this morning which caught my surprise. The status message being: “Looking for a house under $400,000? Head to Papakura.”
I am like going – okay and oh bugger.
From the NZ Herald today
Survey reveals where all the cheap houses are
By Alanah Eriksen @AlanahEriksen 5:30 AM Saturday Sep 28, 2013
House-hunters looking for a home under $400,000 should steer clear of the North Shore, where only 7 per cent of properties sold last month fell into that price range, and instead look at Papakura.
Real Estate Institute figures compiled for the Herald reveal how many homes were in that first-home buyer bracket in the regions of New Zealand’s main centres.
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As of Tuesday, buyers hoping to qualify for KiwiSaver‘s first-home subsidy cannot buy homes for more than $485,000 in Auckland, $400,000 in Christchurch city and Selwyn district, and $425,000 in Wellington city.
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Papakura is the place to look for first-home buyers, with 60 per cent of its on-the-market homes priced under $400,000.
The realestate.co.nz website, which lists homes for sale with all the major real estate companies, shows 221 listings in Papakura priced at less than $400,000.
Real estate agent Ken Kallil, of the LJ Hooker Papakura branch, said he had seen a huge influx of first home buyers searching in the area over the past year.
“If people are going to come to Auckland, spend $1 million on a three-bedroom villa with no section at all in Ponsonby, well for the same amount you could come down here and buy somewhere in Papakura, Wattle Downs sort of area, a five-bedroom brick [home] on a good-sized section.”
He said in off-peak traffic, it took only 20 minutes to drive from his office into the city.
Real Estate Institute chief executive Helen O’Sullivan said: “I think the data indicates that there are properties available in the under $400,000 category if buyers are able to be flexible as to location and property type.
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You can read the full article over at the Herald site
Why oh why though they need to advertise that fact about Papakura? 😛 As Mr Kallil of LJ Hooker said there had been an influx of first home buyers looking in the area. That will drive the value of the properties around here up but also my rates bill as well… :p Ah well suppose it had to happen some time.
Rates grief aside though Papakura is one of Auckland’s hidden gems that while rough around the edges, a bit of spit and polish and the area is pretty good. Papakura is where I reside with Rebekka in our first home that we got for $282,000. It got us a do-up 3 bedroom ex army house on a 510m2 section in a good area of Papakura. While the garden looks like a wild-field of weeds from the winter (which also makes good chicken food as we have chickens) the house is looking good as we continue the renovations.
These are some of the things Papakura has going for it as an attractive place to live:
There are things which need to be done to Papakura to spruce it up a bit more such as: upgrading the Papakura Town Centre and building the Glenora Road Station in Addison. But, for the most part we are happy here and have no intention in moving from the area soon.
For those looking for work away from the CBD (thus the commute) there are several employment hubs both commercial and industrial nearby (with more being built or proposed). Our primary hub – the Manukau City Centre is a decent place to go shopping, scream your lungs out at Rainbows End, soon visit the Te Papa North facility or even expand your education with AUT and MIT in the area.
So those who do not fall for the Champaign tastes on beer budget syndrome there is quite a bit to choose from in Papakura. Granted some houses need a bit of work but hey its your own home 😀
This Myth Needs to Be Debunked Note: I sought clarification from the Unitary Plan Planners today in regards to the definition of high rise here in Auckland. An easy … Continue reading Let’s Get This Straight About High Rise
The nominations have closed for: mayor, council wards and local boards. The list is now out on those who are standing for each position:
My congratulations to: Cameron Brewer, Sharon Stewart and Dick Quax for being reelected unopposed back to Council. No matter our politics it will be good to see some familiar faces for another three years as I continue to advance some #BetterAuckland projects.
As for my Ward? Calum Penrose should be a shoe-in again for Papakura while Arthur Anae should get one of the two seats of the Manukau Ward. I mention Manukau as that is where the #SuperManukau work is happening from TotaRim, so I like to keep an eye on “things in that area.
All the best to all the candidates running
After the recent uproar over the proposal for the Redoubt Road and Mill Road (north end) widening, attention now switches to the southern end of the Mill Road Corridor Project with Auckland Transport preparing an investigation into it.
The Mill Road Corridor Project is essentially creating a 4-lane south-eastern bypass route from Redoubt Road, down Mill Road, through east Papakura before finally connecting at Drury near the motorway interchange. The purpose behind this bypass is to allow for growth in the East Takanini and Papakura area, as well as an alternative to the Southern Motorway between Manukau and Drury (currently congested in peak hour).
Currently owing to the congestion on that section of Southern Motorway, there is a lot of rat running along Redoubt Road and Mill Road as workers head south to head home.
From Papakura Courier
Mill Road decision looms
Homeowners in “limbo” over the controversial Mill Rd corridor could soon find out if they’re in the firing line.
The contract to investigate the second stage of the highway goes to tender in August.
The arterial traffic route is an alternative to State Highway 1 and will link Manukau and Flat Bush to Drury and the southern motorway through Papakura.
Planners will pick up where the Papakura District Council left off its investigations in 2010 but the routes are far from finalised, Auckland Transport spokesman Mark Hannan says.
The district council held meetings in 2009 with residents who were worried their houses could be bowled.
But it’s “too early to tell” if those same residents will still be in the path of development, Mr Hannan says.
The most likely route will head down Cosgrave Rd before doglegging around Cosgrove School and cutting through farmland to link with Dominion Rd, which is expected to be widened from two lanes to four.
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The corridor is about 1.2km east to where I live and could cause rat running down the main road if people decide to use that as a bypass to Papakura or even the motorway via Elliot Street. The rat running would be a pain for myself trying to get to and from Papakura or the Papakura Train Station (until Glenora was built) so I am keeping an eye on this part of the corridor’s development.
From the Papakura Courier article again
After Dominion Rd the route will cut through Hunua Rd along several possible routes through Drury to get to the southern motorway, meaning residents around Waihoehoe and Fitzgerald roads could also see their properties affected.
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I would see that part as the main feeder for the upcoming Drury South Industrial Park as trucks would use it to gain access to State Highway One
And he reckons it doesn’t make sense to create what will essentially be a second motorway on his street now the Government has announced it is to widen State Highway 1.
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That would be true. Apart from maybe Hunua Road to State Highway One (so the southern most end) the rest of the project should probably be reviewed in light of the Southern Motorway upgrades.
Those upgrades which include the dogged Takanini Interchange should take a lot off pressure off that area. Putting the need for a 4-lane bypass back on the shelf and relieving some concerns for local residents. Sure Mill Road will need kerbing, intersection improvements, cycle lanes and maybe a bus lane or two but; not the full hog as we are seeing now.
The investigation is expected to take two years and there will be “full consultation” with residents, he says.
Hark Back to the 1950s or Go Forward into the 21st Century Oh dear seems I have some whingers in my own backyard – Papakura in relation to the … Continue reading Papakura Main Street
Talking Southern Auckland 