13 June, 2007

Henderson Community Board scoops best practice award

The Henderson Community Board's commitment to engaging the community on local projects has been formally acknowledged at the New Zealand Community Board's Conference 2007.

The board scooped the Best Practice Award - Safety following the extensive traffic calming measures that were carried out in Te Atatu South's Vodanovich Road.

Henderson Community Board chairman Elizabeth Grimmer says she is delighted to have won the award, Waitakere's first New Zealand Community Board Award, as it highlighted the successful partnership between the council and the community.

"From the very beginning of this project it was the council working with the residents in this area - listening to what they wanted and working with them to try and deliver it," Ms Grimmer says.

As well as improved signage on the Vodanovich Road, raised entrance thresholds were introduced at either end of the street and traffic islands installed at critical points on the road to narrow it.

Traffic volume and speed measuring equipment is currently being employed on the road to assess the impact of these measures and to see if further work is necessary Ms Grimmer says.

"I think it is important to note that there is a review of the Vodanovich Road traffic calming measures underway, and we will soon be meeting with residents to discuss their thoughts on the work."

In 2006, the Henderson Community Board received over 200 submissions from residents in Vodanovich Road - which is a major thoroughfare for motor vehicles accessing the North Western Motorway - requesting the council take action to slow these vehicles.

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