Multi-storey car park building for Manukau CBD

On the 18^th of May 2011 New Zealand Herald reported that Auckland Council and the Mayor plan to support the new Manukau rail link by building a park and ride facility in the heart of Manukau’s CBD. Unlike other Auckland city’s Manukau’s CBD lacks any all day parking areas because the area is used predominately by a Westfield mall, former Manukau City Council headquarters and a few other professional services, therefore one can see the validity of building a parking building in the CBD.

The establishment of a multi-storey car park building brings numerous issues to Manukau’s CBD. First, it is likely to encourage more people to drive into the Manukau CBD, which will increase congestion. Congestion in this area is costly to many businesses because the entrances to State highway 20 (South western motorway) and State highway 1 (Southern motorway) are located in the heart of Manukau CBD. The car park building is likely to be located in an area that will require people to use the same routes as those trying to access the motorway. 

Secondly, the Herald article suggest that this will be a Council investment indicating that returns are expected therefore it will not be a truly ‘park and ride’ facility that Aucklanders are use to because it is likely that people must pay in order to park their cars here. 

Lastly, one could argue that the ‘integrated transport facility’ argument is being used to build more car parks for the Manukau CBD businesses. Manukau residents are well aware of the car park shortages for workers in our CBD. The Herald also touches on this and indicates that the car parks are likely to be used by businesses in the Manukau CBD as well as public transport users.

Personally, I don’t think many people would drive into Manukau’s CBD to catch the train when the Homai train station is only a 2min drive from the Manukau CBD and has free park space. The Homai train station is also on the Southern route, which means it will have more train services running compared to the expected services for the Manukau line. I thought the Manukau train station would be the Britomart of the South not a normal train station that one would drive to. 

The parking building is still a proposal those interested should keep an eye on the Council website.

References:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10726284