01 August 2010
People first, at last
18 August 2006
By Lauren Bartlett: Te Waha Nui Online
Queen St is set to be narrowed as part of a $7 billion revamp to make Auckland city more attractive for pedestrians.
The four-lane section between Wellesley St and Victoria St is likely to be narrowed as part of a new urban design proposal to “give priority to pedestrians over cars,” says Deputy Mayor Dr Bruce Hucker.
The city will be redeveloped over the next 10 years with most of the work finished in time for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
The new urban design group manager for Auckland City Council, Ludo Campbell-Reid, says Auckland should be a “sophisticated, international vibrant city with a soul”.
This involves diverting cars away from the city centre.
“I’m appalled by the vehicles in a city where the car is king,” Campbell-Reid says.
“You can see people sitting down while waiting to cross the road, and then cattle herding of people across the street. The city should be a place for people.”
Campbell-Reid, who recently arrived from the United Kingdom to work on the urban design project, says Auckland city has the same problems as the UK in terms of high pedestrian accident rates and traffic congestion.
Last year, 47 pedestrians were injured in accidents with cars in the CBD. Nine of them were serious injuries.
Narrowing Queen St would improve business in the CBD.
“Ninety-nine point nine per cent of customers in the city are pedestrians, so anything that improves access for them is beneficial,” says Alex Swney of the Heart of the City lobby group.
Other changes in the new urban design strategy are Queen St’s current upgrade and the remodelling of Khartoum Place behind Auckland Art Gallery.
The Tank Farm redevelopment and changes to other areas outside the CBD are also included in the strategy.
The widening of footpaths on Queen St has already begun, replacing 30 car parks.
Matt Riley, of Auckland City Council, says the council is taking a “more holistic approach” to transport, as well as diverting traffic away from the city centre.
The project will work in conjunction with the central transit corridor, a bus project connecting Newmarket to the CBD.
“This is about making public transport a priority,” says Campbell-Reid.
The bus will link various quarters of the city to make it easier for pedestrians to get around.
This will be combined with development of residential areas and shops around main public transport nodes.
Over the past three weeks a mayoral task force has been established to review current council developments.
The task force mandate will also give clarity to developers about what is and is not good urban design.
The urban design team will have to approve building developments before they go ahead.
“We want to make sure the buildings aren’t detracting from the natural and cultural environment, which is already pretty spectacular,” says Campbell-Reid.
