People come first in revised CBD programme

Auckland City Council

Media release

11 September 2008

People come first in revised CBD programme

Auckland City Council is focusing its CBD streets and open spaces upgrade programme around creating more people-friendly streets and lanes with the potential to become popular destinations.

The council’s Arts, Culture and Recreation Committee today approved a revised CBD streetscapes and open spaces upgrade programme targeting some of the central city’s core streets.

Streets around Queen Street that attract a lot of pedestrians, such as Elliott, Darby, O’Connell and Fort streets are the focus of the revised programme.  Improvements will include features such as wider pavements, more trees, quality street furniture and stone paving and will be designed to give the CBD a more pedestrian-friendly feel.

Councillor Greg Moyle, chairperson of the Arts, Culture and Recreation Committee says the review follows the successful upgrade of a number of the streets in the CBD.

“The first phase of the programme has seen the successful upgrade of Queen Street and connecting streets, such as Vulcan Lane and Lorne Street.  The next phase will build on these developments and reinforce our investment in the CBD.

“The result will be streets that attract more people activities, such as cafes and clubs and outdoor meeting places. These will then become top of mind when Aucklanders think about somewhere they would like to go to enjoy time out or simply to meet with friends,” he said.

Projects included in the revised programme are to be funded through the CBD targeted rate, a special rate paid by CBD residents and businesses to fund central area projects.  They include

Fort Street, Commerce Street, Gore Street, Jean Batten Place, Lower Shortland Street (Queen Street to Jean Batten Place), Fort Lane, O’Connell Street, Exchange Lane, Elliott Street, Darby Street, Victoria Street (Albert Park to Albany Street), Lorne Street (stage 2 Library Precinct), upper Khartoum Place (stage 2), Kitchener Street (Wellesley Street to Victoria Street), St Patrick’s Square and Swanson Street (stage 2).   The estimated value of the remaining programme is $61 million.

As a result of the review, some projects will no longer be included in the CBD targeted rate funded programme.  These include Albert Street, Beach Road (stage 2), Customs Street, Wyndham Street, Durham Street west and Federal Street, Nelson Street, Hobson Street, Beresford Square and Queen Street/Myers Park entrance.

The 10-year programme to transform the CBD has been revised due to a number of changes since its introduction in 2004, and to progress the next phase.  Changes include the introduction of higher urban design standards that have led to increased project costs.

David Jones, group manager, CBD projects says the revised programme comes within budget, makes sound financial sense and reflects the city’s urban design goals.

“The higher urban design standards and use of quality of materials will result in a longer life for the street and open space upgrades.  We will focus on creating more destinations for people to linger and enjoy.  These will be quality places contributing to a more human scale city where residents take greater priority,” he said.

The CBD streetscape and open spaces upgrade programme contributes to the CBD Into the Future strategy and its vision of making the CBD one of the world’s premier business and cultural locations.

Notes to the Editor:

The review involved assessing streets and open spaces included in the 2004 programme against a set of weighted criteria. The criteria included:

·       Complementing existing upgrades and supporting key CBD destinations

8       Delivering a degree of change, making a significant difference

9       Encouraging, supporting and leveraging investment and private and public developments

10      Upgrading high use areas

11      Promoting north south pedestrian routes and connecting east west routes.

The CBD targeted rate is a special rate established in 2004 paid by CBD residents and businesses to fund central area projects - from which they will benefit

The 10-year CBD streetscapes and open spaces programme total value is $157.8 million.  This includes the Aotea Square redevelopment which is funded by the CBD targeted rate, general rate, financial and development contributions.

Ends