29 August 2002
Corridor Study More Than A Transport Solution
Auckland City must seize the initiative and work towards implementing the social and community benefits recommended in
the Eastern Corridor Strategy Study, says the chairman of the council’s Transport Committee, Cr Greg McKeown.
“We have a wonderful opportunity to provide a blueprint for strong community development as well as an answer to
pressing transport problems,” he says.
Cr McKeown says that while the prime focus of the study has been to find a transport solution, there are a number of
social benefits including better access to employment, enhanced neighbourhood amenity and improving access to
recreational resources.
“I want to make sure the council optimises the benefits for the wider community with the development of the corridor so
there are social as well as transport and economic benefits for the city and the region,” says Cr McKeown.
He says the strategy study has taken a very broad approach to minimise the effects of an expressway on the communities
it runs through and it has the ability to deliver social, environmental and economic benefits in tandem with the obvious
transport solutions.
In particular, Cr McKeown says there is exciting potential development to improve the attractiveness of the Glen Innes
and Panmure shopping centres, and to improve access to employment in those suburbs.
He says there is also opportunity to develop recreational areas along Tamaki Drive and to protect and develop amenity
for community infrastructure such as schools, the Parnell Baths, and the Outboard Boating Club and the Hobson Bay
recreational area.
There is huge university and business growth around the Tamaki Campus and the corridor will help that development as
well as provide safer environments within suburban streets by eliminating heavy traffic vehicles.
“Part of this development has to be a focus on the urban environment so we create the sorts of streets and community
facilities we all want to live in,” says Cr McKeown.
“Here we have a wonderful opportunity to protect, preserve and enhance a whole range of community facilities in
conjunction with making real progress on a major transport development.”
Cr McKeown says the Eastdor Study is comprehensive, taking into account a major review of all the work that has been
done in the past, significant engineering and transport modelling studies, and engagement with stakeholder groups.
“The breadth of the report and the clear recommendations certainly provide the Transport Committee with a sound platform
for progressing the development of the Eastern Corridor."
The next stage of the process is for feedback from stakeholders and other interested parties and for the transport
committee to receive advice from transport planning staff.
Cr McKeown says his committee will be in a position in mid-October to make a recommendation on the next phase of the
project.
ENDS