11 August 2005

Manukau City Receives Heart Transplant

The heart of Manukau is about to get a transplant thanks to a $4m upgrade of the City's main square which begins next week.

The work involves beautifying the square with planting, paving, lighting, custom furniture, and a cobble-stoned mainstreet.

The re-development will also include two major pieces of public art, and a community youth project which will involve specially designed large banners along the newly extended Osterley Way. The two major artworks are yet to be commissioned.

Mayor Sir Barry Curtis says the square has long been a desolate area and was long overdue for an extreme makeover.

"This is a civic space that should be enjoyed by the community. The makeover will bring more vibrancy to the area and the work the construction will begin early August and finish in April 2005.

The project is the first step in implementing multi-million dollar plans to revitalise the entire city centre to make it a more attractive, culturally and economically vibrant place to work, live and relax.

Sir Barry says lively, safe and attractive town centres are an important factor in business and property owner's location decisions.

"Businesses wanting to attract and retain the best staff know that potential employees want jobs close to the right mix of retail, services and entertainment. Property buyers are also looking to town centres to provide a range of lifestyle opportunities for evenings and weekends," said Sir Barry.

"Manukau City Centre will eventually have a residential population of up to 8,000 people. We must provide good reasons for them to choose this town centre." he said.

Other features will include enhancements to Hayman Park, new commercial development around Putney Way, a possible new tertiary education facility, and public and road transport improvements.

The creation of a new railway station in the Manukau town centre area, with a link to the main railway line at Wiri, is also planned. It will bring shoppers into the City Centre and enable many more employees to arrive by public transport.

ENDS

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