MEDIA RELEASE

10 May 2004

Aucklanders urged to have
their say on Queen Street plans

Aucklanders have one more week to have their say on Auckland City’s $23.4 million draft plan to upgrade Queen Street.

The council has already received more than 90 submissions, offering a range of views from not altering the existing traffic and parking layout to turning Queen Street into a pedestrian only mall. Public consultation closes on 14 May 2004.

Chairperson of Auckland City’s Strategy and Governance Committee, Councillor Mark Donnelly, says the street upgrade supports Auckland City’s strategy to revitalise Auckland’s central business district (CBD) into one of the world’s most vibrant and dynamic business and cultural centres.

“Auckland’s CBD not only supports Auckland City and the regional economy, it also plays a key role in the wider New Zealand economy. We need to ensure it meets the needs of all its users,” he says.

All ideas will be considered for inclusion in the final plans. Council officers are already working through some of the issues, specifically the concerns raised by some Queen Street retailers and property owners about reducing the two current traffic lanes to one and removing the 45 private car parking spaces on Queen Street.

A survey is underway to find out who uses the spaces and why. Auckland City residents will soon be asked for their opinion on the continued existence of the on street parks in a telephone survey and an independent report has been commissioned to assess the impacts of similar street upgrades on other city centres.

“Although the issues raised around parking and traffic layout are not unexpected and are often raised when significant street improvement projects are proposed, it is important that the implications of the proposed plans are thoroughly understood before any decisions are made.”

“I urge all Aucklanders to take a look at the plans and tell us what they think,” says Mr Donnelly.

People can have their say by filling in the feedback form on http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/cbd or emailing their ideas to queen@aucklandcity.govt.nz.

Copies of the plans, feedback forms and free post envelopes are available from displays at the:
- Britomart Display Centre, Northern Steamship Building, 122 Quay Street
- Central City Library, 44 - 46 Lorne Street, Auckland central
- ground floor of the former Chief Post Office.

Physical work is expected to begin early next year.

Ends

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