submission to papakura local board plan pdf mode

SUBMISSION TO PAPAKURA LOCAL BOARD PLAN 2014[ ]

Benjamin Ross 0

SUBMISSION TO PAPAKURA LOCAL

BOARD PLAN 2014

Submitted by

Benjamin Ross


Benjamin Ross 1

Submission to Papakura Local Board Plan 2014

Benjamin Ross

89 Arimu Road

Papakura 2110

E: [email protected]

Web: http://voakl.net

mailto:[email protected]

http://voakl.net/


Benjamin Ross 2

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


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Benjamin Ross 4

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

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

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:


Benjamin Ross 15

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


Benjamin Ross 16

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


Benjamin Ross 20

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