Park and Ride public transport hub for Panmure

Plans for a ‘park and ride’ public transport facility for Panmure were discussed at Auckland City’s City Development Committee this week, as part of the official process for the council acquiring the appropriate land for the facility.

The park and ride facility and bus interchange is to be located adjacent to the relocated rail station in Panmure, at 528 – 536 Ellerslie-Panmure Highway and 107 Mountain Road, to the west of the Panmure roundabout and the Panmure shops. It is estimated that the area will provide parking for 220 vehicles, for occupants to then connect with a bus or train. A bus transfer facility will be constructed with access available from Mountain Road and pedestrian links provided across the Ellerslie-Panmure Highway.

“This new facility will provide a huge boost to local businesses,” said Councillor Juliet Yates, City Development Committee chairperson.

“As commuters park their cars or take a bus to connect to the rail network, the local businesses will provide a convenient stopping point for their shopping, further supporting any development of the town centre.

“The eventual removal of the current set of buildings will open up the entrance to Panmure and give the area more of an open feel from an urban design point of view,” said Mrs Yates.

The park and ride facility is a new example of council’s plans for the redevelopment of the Tamaki Edge and part of New Zealand’s biggest urban transformation project.

The council’s Transport Committee chairperson, Councillor Greg McKeown is also pleased to see the development of the facility progress a further stage.

“This is another cog in the wheel towards improving access to public transport for local residents and those from outside the immediate area wanting to connect to the transport network,“ said Mr McKeown.

“As we build a better transport network, getting around Auckland by public transport will involve more efficient bus-train interchanges like this. We will also need to develop timetables and bus routes to suit, and better ticketing systems.

“To complement the investment in Britomart, the council is committed to developing public transport facilities elsewhere in the city to make sure more and more people can make use of our public transport system, ” said Mr McKeown.

The council is currently in negotiation with directly affected landowners, and the committee decision today confirmed council officers can proceed with the formal notice of requirement for the land identified.

Residents and the wider public were consulted during the preparation of the Panmure Liveable Community Plan, about what they wanted to see happen in the area, and it was this process that identified such a facility as a key objective for the future of the area.

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