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

Drury’s community pushes for Train Station

Papakura Courier on the 5^th of May reported the campaign being led by a 12-year-old girl for Drury to have a train station. Papakura Courier has reported that the campaign has the support of over 300 people who have signed the petition asking Auckland Council and its local board for a train station in Drury.

The Southern rail line does go past Drury every time the train service ends at Pukekohe. In my personal opinion I find it strange that the train does not stop in Drury seeing that it goes past the township during the special services through Pukekohe. Pukekohe train services only run 10 times a day from Monday to Friday from Pukekohe to Britomart and only 9 times from Britomart to Pukekohe during the weekdays. This would not make a significant difference to the running of the train if a stop were to be built in Drury because only services that headed to and returning from Pukekohe would be effected. The significant cost would come from building the train station.

Source: New Zealand rail maps, 2011.
Drury is located in between Papakura and Pukekohe the map is from 2005 as you can see the number of services daily has increase significantly from 4 per day to 19.

I support the idea of having a station from Drury because it gives people living out in the rural areas of Auckland an alternative choice to driving. It would also support Auckland’s move towards public transportation. Auckland Council should support this campaign if they want to actualize their vision.


Reference:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/papakura-courier/4960722/Greers-station-campaign

Pine Harbour Development and lessons it could teach us

Pine Harbour, a beautiful serene area nested within Beachlands (East Auckland) has its future currently being fought out in the environment court.

Source: Pohutukawa coast, 2011
Views from Pine Harbour

The Eastern Courier reported early this week that the Pohutukawa Coast Community Association is furious with Pine Harbour Holdings' planned development as it would damage the streetscape and unique environment that locals love.

According to Eastern Courier Pine Harbour Holdings’ development will include:

• ·      Develop 11.58 hectares of land surrounding the marina into residential land use.
• ·      Apartments 2 to 5 storeys high are the chosen and dominant typology and will house would 1000 people.
• ·      Commercial and retail space

Source: Pine Harbour Holdings, 2011
Example of apartment designs laid out in Pine Holdings Proposal

The community is not against development, they only wish to modify the company’s proposal so that the new development does not negatively and significantly impact the current facade of the area. The community group has also pointed out that the developments have not been accompanied by a development increase in transportation modes. This is significant as the main modes of transport (excluding private car) in this area are the ferry and buses, which run very limited services and infrequent services, meaning most of the new residential developments will use private vehicles thus increasing traffic and usage of local roads. 

Pine Harbour’s development is a clear signal to everyone that urban grow is occurring and Auckland city’s surrounding areas such as the Beachlands will have to take some of the growth. However, development should occur in a way that is not only commercially beneficial but also sympathetic and considerate to community/local values. Communities should be listened to and their ideas thought about and responded to. In the end development will only be successful in adding to Auckland’s social capital when it acknowledges social values. 

Choo-Choo train heading towards Manukau’s CBD

Residents living in Manukau are about to get a new rail line service opened to them. Unlike North Shore and Auckland City residents who have frequent bus services with dedicated bus lines such as the B-line or the Northern express buses using the Northern bus-way, Manukau City residents depend on our trains as our main public transport into Auckland CBD. Some may argue that it won't matter if there's another train line service with the increasing train fare encourages Manukau residents to get back into their cars but that’s another story. 

Currently there are rail lines are being attached and laid out connecting the current Southern rail line to the new rail line heading towards Manukau’s CBD. The rail line named the Manukau rail link leads into a Britomart like transport hub, which is estimated to become the second busiest station after Britomart.

More new tracks are being laid out behind the pile of gravel heading towards Manukau CBD.
Source: R.Layco, 2011 Personal photos

Dirty roads that are being used by the heavy machinery to laid out the tracks.
Source: R. Layco, 2011 Personal Photos

More materials that are being used during construction.
Source: R. Layco, 2011 Personal Photos

According to Kiwi Rail this is “the first new rail route to be built in Auckland since 1930”. The line will be a double track “2km section of new track linking Davies Ave in Manukau City with the Southern railway line at Puhinui. The track will run under Lambie Drive and Plunket Ave and across Hayman Park” (Kiwi Rail, 2011).

Source: Kiwi Rail, 2011

Kiwi Rail started work in July 2009 and the project is expected to be finished mid 2011 and scheduled to operate passenger services so after. Additionally, the project has been timed to finish in time to assist in rugby world cup transportation. I have been using train services regularly for over 7 years and I have no doubt that once this line has opened that the locals will utilize it.