MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday 6 September

Iconic Panmure Sign On The Move

What should happen to the iconic Panmure sign when the roundabout is upgraded to an intersection with traffic lights as part of the AMETI project?

The Panmure Business Association and Auckland Transport want feedback from the community on options for the sign, including re-locating it, at a public information day on the Auckland Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative (AMETI) on 15 September.

Two new locations are being suggested for the sign, at a new public space where Lagoon Dr and Queen’s Rd meet at the new intersection or a new public space where Mountain Rd currently meets the roundabout. Other suggestions to the business association have included creating a new public artwork out of the letters or simply getting rid of the sign.

The public information day will feature the latest plans for the next phase of AMETI, Panmure to Pakuranga, which includes replacing the roundabout with an intersection, a busway from Panmure Station to Pakuranga town centre, and major walking and cycling improvements. It will also include information on the construction currently underway – a new Panmure Station building, a new north-south road, a tunnel for the road and three new bridges.

When: 10am to 1pm, Saturday 15 September. Where: Panmure Bridge School Hall, 76 Kings Rd, Panmure.

The Panmure sign was installed in 1994 as part of a streetscape upgrade by the Panmure Business Association. It was designed to represent the growth of Panmure between the 1940s and 60s, with a 1950s theme of space exploration and new thinking towards technology.

Panmure Business Association Town Centre Manager Chris Sutton says “there is no other sign in Auckland quite like it. Like the big trout, the big carrot or the big kiwi fruit you either love it or hate it.”

“In the end the community must decide what they want to see happen and if they agree to keep the sign then I think it is a perfect time to give it a complete makeover. The refurbishment could reflect the changing face of our community, or the natural features that the sign sits between - the Panmure Basin and Maungarei/Mt Wellington”.

The business association will make a decision on what will happen to the sign following community feedback. Auckland Transport will pay for re-locating the sign and any repainting or other upgrade work.

Upgrading the roundabout to an intersection will remove a major traffic bottleneck in the area. Another major benefit is reducing current crossing distances for pedestrians of up to 500m around the roundabout to less than 50m on direct crossing at traffic lights. The changes will also bring Panmure town centre and station closer together with improvements reducing the walking distance to about 600m.

AMETI Phase Two Panmure to Pakuranga, currently scheduled to start in 2015/16, also includes:

· Creating a busway with lanes separate to general traffic from Panmure Station to Pakuranga town centre along the north (cliff side) of Lagoon Drive and Pakuranga Rd

· A new Panmure Bridge next to the existing one for the busway, cyclists and pedestrians

· Completing about 7km of new cycling paths and 6km of wide new footpaths, including new paths linking Panmure and Pakuranga

· The Reeves Rd flyover, a direct link from Pakuranga Rd to Waipuna Bridge over Ti Rakau Drive and above part of Reeves Rd, avoiding congestion around Pakuranga town centre

Auckland Transport Major Projects Manager Rick Walden encourages people in the area to come to the public information day and give their feedback on the latest plans.

Following the feedback detailed design will be completed so consents can be lodged in 2013 for public submissions for the next phase of AMETI. Further public information days will be held before consents are lodged for

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