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SUBMISSION TO PAPAKURA LOCAL BOARD PLAN 2014[ ]
Benjamin Ross 0
SUBMISSION TO PAPAKURA LOCAL
BOARD PLAN 2014
Submitted by
Benjamin Ross
SUBMISSION TO PAPAKURA LOCAL BOARD PLAN 2014[ ]
Benjamin Ross 1
Submission to Papakura Local Board Plan 2014
Benjamin Ross
89 Arimu Road
Papakura 2110
E: Ben.R001@gmail.com
Web: http://voakl.net
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Contents Introductory Remarks ............................................................................................................................. 4
The Three New Initiatives for Papakura ................................................................................................. 5
A Vibrant Town Centre............................................................................................................................ 6
A note about the Manukau City Centre Metropolitan Centre and the Papakura Metropolitan
Centre .............................................................................................................................................. 6
In response to wanting “A vibrant town (Metropolitan Centre)” ...................................................... 7
A vibrant town centre ......................................................................................................................... 7
Well-connected and Easy to move around ............................................................................................. 9
In response to “Well connected and easy to move around” ............................................................ 10
Strong, safe and healthy communities ................................................................................................. 16
In response to the “Strong, safe and healthy community” outlines in the Papakura Local Board
Plan draft summary ........................................................................................................................... 17
Concluding Remarks.............................................................................................................................. 19
SUBMISSION TO PAPAKURA LOCAL BOARD PLAN 2014[ ]
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SUBMISSION TO PAPAKURA LOCAL BOARD PLAN 2014[ ]
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Introductory Remarks
Papakura Metropolitan Centre is unique in that it serves and is a bit of town/urban and a bit of
country/rural and as our planning needs to reflect as such. Whether that be adequate provisions for
bus and rail backed up by park and rides to serve both the rural and dispersed suburban catchment
(in comparison to the Isthmus with its more concentrated and intensified catchment) and roads built
to assist getting freight around efficiently. Does the Papakura Metropolitan Centre encourage people
from both urban and rural catchments to both socialise and “do their business” whether it is paying
bills or a spot of shopping. Or will Papakura Metropolitan Centre (as it is now) basically drive people
to places like Manukau and big box sites like Southgate. Will our community facilities be up to
scratch and will our transit links is accessible to all including those who want to walk and cycle?
All things to ask and consider when setting the Local Board draft Plan. And of course as always the
“wish list” in such plans is subject to funding in the respective Long Term Plans
Source: http://amerinz.blogspot.co.nz/2009/10/auckland-views-papakura.html
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The Three New Initiatives for Papakura
As this document forms the submission rather than the existing Auckland Council based document
my thoughts/rankings on the three new initiatives are the following:
From the Papakura Draft Local Board Plan 2014 document:
THERE ARE THREE NEW INITIATIVES THAT WE CONSIDERED THAT WITH YOUR HELP WOULD
IMPROVE PAPAKURA. WE WANT TO KNOW WHICH ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU SO WE CAN
PRIORITISE FUNDING.
PLEASE RANK THEM WITH 1 BEING MOST IMPORTANT AND 3 BEING LEAST IMPORTANT.
[1] Working with businesses and investors to create a better, more attractive
and prosperous town centre.
[2] Working with communities to create multi-purpose community hubs for
new residential developments and improve existing community facilities.
[3] Promoting Papakura as a venue for sporting excellence and sporting
competitions, with the best facilities.
My reasons for the above ranking will be explored in the wider submission especially in answer to
questions the Papakura Local Board have laid out in the draft plan ‘Summary’ document.
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A Vibrant Town Centre
Papakura is classified as a Metropolitan Centre under the Auckland Plan and the Proposed Auckland
Unitary Plan. Currently up to 11 storey buildings can be built in the Papakura Metropolitan Centre
and any planning must incorporate the consequences of that for both Papakura and the wider
catchment the Papakura Metropolitan Centre would serve.
By the wider catchment I mean that in theory the Papakura Metropolitan Centre would serve a rural
AND urban catchment ranging from Auckland’s south boundaries near Pukekohe to arguably
Manurewa to the north and Clevedon in the east.
A note about the Manukau City Centre Metropolitan Centre and the Papakura
Metropolitan Centre
It is hoped that the Manukau City Centre and Papakura Metropolitan Centres would work in a
collaborative and cooperative manner rather than competing against each other owing to the fact
both a Metropolitan Centres. In short the Manukau City Centre Metropolitan area serves different
dynamics compared to the Papakura Metropolitan Centre. Manukau serves as the hub for all of
Southern Auckland and part of the northern Waikato while Papakura serves a smaller area.
Another way to look at it is the main City Centre serving all of Auckland while the Metropolitan
Centres serve a smaller area. The same applies with Manukau and Papakura insofar that Manukau
serves a regional catchment while Papakura serves a sub-regional catchment.
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In response to wanting “A vibrant town (Metropolitan Centre)”
A vibrant town centre We think it’s great that Papakura meets our needs for shopping, leisure, arts and culture and we don’t need to travel elsewhere for these things. Over the next three years we want to:
Support the planning and development of Papakura as a major metropolitan
centre
The best way to do that is have a Papakura Metropolitan Centre Master Plan drawn up and
beginning implementation by the time the Unitary Plan goes operative late 2016. The master plan
would be a similar type document to the current and operative City Centre Master Plan. That being
the Papakura Metropolitan Centre Master Plan would spell out detailed goals, aspirations and
definitive timelines of projects within the Metropolitan Centre area. From there the Council, Local
Board, community, developers and businesses have a solid guide/plan (although always subject to
Long Term Plans) to Papakura Metropolitan Centre’s future and thus can plan themselves
accordingly with certainty.
Make the town centre and surrounding streets safe and accessible
To do this you need improve that accessibility which in turn reduces Fear of Crime perceptions
people would have. That Fear of Crime1 and inaccessibility gives false negative perceptions of the
Papakura Metropolitan Centre and will keep people away.
Being accessible means people that are both fully able and not so able (for whatever reason) by
transport modes of their choice (within reason). Whether that is car, bus, train, walk or cycle
Papakura Metropolitan Centre and its surrounds must be universally accessible.
Safety can be improved by a range of measures including:
Long lines of sight between the person and what is ahead of them. That means avoiding
narrow alley ways and other areas people can hide behind and not be visible.
Taking cars out of the Papakura Metropolitan Centre core by flipping streets into pedestrian malls or converting those streets to shared spaces like Fort Street in the City Centre. Papakura Metropolitan Centre is that – a centre where people mix and mingle, hang out, socialise and shop. Cars don’t do that people do and having cars with their parking confined to the outer fringes of the Metropolitan Centre will improve safety within the Metropolitan Centre itself. I will cover taking cars out of the Papakura Metropolitan Centre in the transport section of this submission
1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear_of_crime
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Work with local businesses to promote the town centre and with local artists
to create a special feel to the main streets.
Again taking the cars out the core of Papakura Metropolitan Centre would help immensely in
creating that special feel to the Papakura Metropolitan Centre’s main streets. Cars again are anti-
social devices when driving through a main street treating it as a thoroughfare. Get them out of the
main streets; flip it over to pedestrian malls or (if cars are still “needed”) shared space so people do
not need to worry about being run over by a car in their main street. From there local artists can
contribute their part in creating that special feel to Papakura’s main streets.
As for promoting the Papakura Metropolitan Centre some questions need to be asked by everyone
first.
That is: Is the social, economic and planning systems in place to allow a successful promotion of
Papakura Metropolitan Centre?
1. For economics: Is the ground rents affordable to allow quality business tenants to set up
shop in the Papakura Metropolitan Centre? Too higher ground rents will automatically drive
those quality tenants to places like Takanini Village.
2. For social systems: is Papakura Metropolitan Centre a place where people want to hang out,
socialise, shop, have a bite to eat or something to drink? Or is it a place filled with anti-social
cars passing through that drag down the desirability of the place and as a consequence
people “rush” through rather than enjoying the place. Remember people spend money not
cars passing through.
3. For planning systems: is the Papakura Local Board assisting or getting in the road of planning
and development allocations that would “upgrade” Papakura Metropolitan Centre? An
example question be would the Local Board get in the road of an 11 storey mixed use
commercial and resident tower in the Papakura Metropolitan Centre (which would be
allowed under the Unitary Plan) providing it was of good urban design taste?
For any promotion to work for Papakura the economic, social and planning systems will all need to
be in place first otherwise it is a total waste of ratepayer money.
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Well-connected and Easy to move around
Papakura is indeed well connected by road, rail, bus, cycling and walking routes. Over the next few
years we are seeing increased investment through the South Auckland Bus Network (from mid-2015)
as well as new cycle ways down the Great South Road both at Takanini and soon Drury. NZTA is
upgrading the Southern Motorway and Takanini Interchange from late 2015 and we see Auckland
Transport continue to invest in rail and rail station infrastructure.
The catch is for Papakura Local Board to make sure our connections work well in not only providing
transport links but corresponding to the accompanying land-use patterns as well. Thoroughfares are
that, thoroughfares. But quiet residential roads should be acting as communal “front yards” where
neighbours can “interact” with their fellow neighbours without cars barrelling down those roads at
“speed.”
Cars are anti-social devices and diminish the easy to move around aspects in our urban environment.
Easy to move around (a key factor in being well connected) also means how easily can I walk (and
interact) in my quiet residential street or Papakura Metropolitan Centre’s main streets without
undue worry about cars going through? If it is easy to move about in walking through my quiet
residential streets or the main streets in Papakura Metropolitan Centre then I am more likely to
“socialise” with my fellow people and urban environment. This gives positive healthy outcomes.
So think: car or people first in being well connected and easy to move around. The answer requires a
balancing act as both each have their place (so no I am not anti-car but we do need to remove the
dominance of the car (especially when used for short distance trips) out of aspects of our urban
environment).
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In response to “Well connected and easy to move around”
Well-connected and easy to move around
We like to live in Papakura because it is so well connected by road, rail and bus and has lots of safe cycling and walking links. Over the next three years we want to:
Reduce traffic congestion by pushing for road improvements such as the Mill
Road bypass and bridges over rail crossings
The northern Mill Road Bypass should now be reviewed on whether it should be scaled back or
eliminated entirely. This is because the bypass was designed to alleviate traffic owing to the State
Highways 20/1 interchange congestion saga which is now being fixed by the Southern Motorway
upgrade starting late next year. So I urge a rethink on the necessity of the northern section of the
Mill Road bypass as I see this as a waste of our money when the main problem on the Southern
Motorway is now being fixed quickly.
Suggested Alternative Layout for Mill Road Northern Section
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Alternative upgraded when south-eastern Future Urban Zone (between Porchester and Mill Roads)
is fully developed
As for the southern Mill Road bypass the continued investigation into that needs to continue in light
of the Drury South heavy industrial complex soon to get under way.
Other ways to reduce congestion is getting bus lanes in towards the northern end of the Great South
Road near and at the Takanini Interchange so that the buses can travel through the area efficiently.
If we have a more efficient the bus system then more people will catch the buses. More people on
buses (and trains) mean fewer cars on the road thus freeing up road space and lessening congestion.
With Papakura Metropolitan Centre, Takanini Village, Southgate and many neighbourhood centres
within 10-20 minute walking distances from a person’s home (in the urban area) it is important that
our walkways are up to scratch as well as easy to cross a road.
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So to make it easier to walk (thus reduce congestion on short journey trips) does Papakura have the
following:
1. Footpaths in good condition
2. Road speed suited to surrounding conditions
3. Adequate safe crossing points at regular distances especially on main thoroughfare roads
4. Adequate safe crossing points at intersections whether it be pedestrian crossings or traffic
light controlled signals
Another way to ease congestion is get rid of the excessive amount of traffic lights especially in and
around Papakura Town Centre. Roundabouts (with pedestrian crossings) should be more than
adequate to handle traffic through that area without resorting to lights. So get rid of them.
In regards to grade separation of the rail crossings in the Papakura area; yes I do believe that and
especially Walters Road and Manuroa Road should be grade separated as soon as possible. Taka
Street and Spartan Road Crossings also need grade separation but that can be done at a later date.
I would recommend conducting a feasibility study in whether a grade separated road crossing is
needed at Glenora Road (the site of the proposed Glenora Station) to connect the Great South Road
up with the Addison Special Housing Area. The grade separated crossing would allow car, bus,
walking and cycle access to be easier between the Great South Road and Addison rather than have it
all funnel along Taka Street Level Crossing and the already congested Walters Road Crossing (even if
it was grade separated).
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Ensure our rail links remain effective by pushing for a new rail station near
Southgate (at Glenora/Walters Road) and considering long-term needs, such
as a train station at Drury
Agree with this. Glenora Station effectively needs to be up and running by 2016 at the latest to allow
the station to serve the area and assist in lessening congestion on the surrounding roads. If Glenora
Road Station is built it would be the main station rather than Papakura when I catch to the trains.
Two notes though when it comes to Glenora Road Station:
1. If Glenora Station is to be built then Takanini Station needs to be closed as it will be too close
to allow effective passenger train operations. Park and Ride, Kiss and Ride, Cycle lockers,
feeder buses and walkways at Glenora Road Station would compensate the loss of those
who use Takanini Station with adequate access routes to a state of the art and more
accessible station.
2. The Papakura Local Board needs to work with Franklin, Manurewa, and the Otara-
Papatoetoe Local Boards to exert maximum pressure to have the Manukau Rail South Link
built by the end of 2015 (preferably by the start of Semester 1 for MIT next year). This link
would allow direct train services from Pukekohe and Papakura (and all the stations up to
Homai) at 15 minute frequencies (if not more frequent as demand grows) to Manukau
Station rather than having to do a cumbersome transfer at Puhinui Station further north.
Allowing this South Link to be built would attract more people to the trains especially those
without easy access to cars thus lessen the congestion along the roads and motorway. The
South Link will give better accessibility for the population of South Auckland to its heart –
the Manukau City Centre.
Make improvements to our town centre streets
I have said earlier in my submission that we need to bring the Papakura Metropolitan Streets back to
the people. The best way to do that is remove the dominance of the car and put the people first.
This means bypasses for thoroughfare traffic, adequate off street parking, shared spaces like Fort
Street in the City Centre and where possible pedestrian mall. The speed limit in the Papakura
Metropolitan Centre should be dropped to 30km/h along the inner bypasses and 20km/h along the
shared spaces.
Any on-street parking in the Papakura Metropolitan Centre should be restricted to short term
parking (30mins), loading zones and Mobility Parking. Medium and Long Term Parking should be
done off street. Cycle parking and plenty of rubbish bins and park benches should also be supplied to
help improve the town centre streets for walkers and cyclists.
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The map below shows how I would “make improvements to our town centre streets:
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Work on a local greenways plan to create a cycling and walking network
around our area.
I agree with the bullet point and look forward to the Local Board developing the plan and network to
promote more active transport mode connectivity
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Strong, safe and healthy communities
To provide these strong, safe and healthy communities the Papakura Local Board area needs to have
adequate social and civic infrastructure in place. Something often missed or overlooked especially at
regional level.
Community Houses/Halls, libraries , parks, plazas, playgrounds and community gardens are all social
infrastructure that through the life of this upcoming Papakura Local Board Plan should be reviewed,
planned and built upon (whether existing or new) if we want a Papakura that is strong, safe and
healthy.
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In response to the “Strong, safe and healthy community” outlines in the
Papakura Local Board Plan draft summary
Strong, safe and healthy communities We have good places for communities to meet and great places to play in. Our young people get a great start in life and we value the wisdom and experience of our older people. Over the next three years we want to:
Provide more and better children’s play areas in the older parts of town and
work with housing developers to make sure new neighbourhoods have good
play facilities
This is essential if we want to encourage both children and families to be in the outdoors both
socialising and keeping physically fit. To make these play areas in both established and planned areas
of urban Papakura as effective as possible they needed to be interconnected with the “local
greenways plan” otherwise the play areas will be isolated and poorly utilised.
Modernise community houses and halls and explore how these facilities can
become community and learning centres to make sure they are widely used by
a range of groups
I agree and support this point.
Strengthen neighbourhoods with shared spaces such as community gardens
I agree and support point. Again like with the parks and children play areas, shared spaces like
community gardens should be interconnected with the “greenways plan” to promote accessibility
and utilisation. Otherwise the subsequent isolation would result in poor utilisation of the shared
space facilities.
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Develop new multi-purpose facilities like the library/innovation hub planned
for Takanini.
I agree and support this point. With the library/innovation/community hub planned for Takanini it
needs to coincide and be built or rather interconnected with the planned Glenora Road Rail Station
facility if the hub is to be fully utilised and accessible to all modes of transport (not everyone has a
car and the Glenroa Station should have (as well as the rail station) park and ride, bus stops, kiss and
ride, and cycle locker facilities).
If the library/hub was built at Takanini my family and I would use the facility on a regular basis. The
facility is also within walking distance of where we live so we are more likely to walk to the Takanini
Library/Hub than drive.
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Concluding Remarks
This brings to a close my submission to the Papakura Local Board draft Plan. Papakura has a lot of
challenges ahead of it if it is to step up in its role as a Metropolitan Centre per the Auckland and
Unitary Plans. That said Papakura already has a lot of established infrastructure (physical, human
and social) that can be leveraged off (along with new infrastructure) to really enhance the vitality of
Papakura Metropolitan Centre and Papakura as a whole.
Again: Papakura Metropolitan Centre is unique in that it serves and is a bit of town/urban and a bit
of country/rural and as our planning needs to reflect as such. Whether that be adequate provisions
for bus and rail backed up by park and rides to serve both the rural and dispersed suburban
catchment (in comparison to the Isthmus with its more concentrated and intensified catchment) and
roads built to assist getting freight around efficiently. Does the Papakura Metropolitan Centre
encourage people from both urban and rural catchments to both socialise and “do their business”
whether it is paying bills or a spot of shopping. Or will Papakura Metropolitan Centre (as it is now)
basically drive people to places like Manukau and big box sites like Southgate. Will our community
facilities be up to scratch and will our transit links is accessible to all including those who want to
walk and cycle?
All things to ask and consider when setting the Local Board draft Plan. And of course as always the
“wish list” in such plans is subject to funding in the respective Long Term Plans
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