December 13, 2005

Community Board endorses Beach Front Lane upgrade

Local community support for a major upgrade to Browns Bay's Beach Front Lane clears the way for North Shore City Council to seek resource consent.

The proposal to create a pedestrian-friendly, high quality promenade along the length of Beach Front Lane has won the East Coast Bays Community Board's approval, following design improvements made in response to public feedback.

The new promenade will include a timber boardwalk on the beach-side of the lane, a two-way concrete road designed for slow traffic, and specialist lighting, seating and picnic areas. Pohutukawa trees will be retained and new ones planted.

The proposal is one of North Shore City Council's key urban upgrade projects, and stems from community feedback provided to the Browns Bay Centre Plan in 2000.

Chairman of North Shore City's strategic management committee, Gary Holmes, says the upgraded Beach Front Lane will significantly benefit the people of Browns Bay and all beach users.

"After many years of planning and consultation, it is heartening to see this project approaching its construction phase," says Councillor Holmes, a long-time member of the East Coast Bays Community Board.

"The project nicely balances the preservation of the existing environment with the need to enhance and freshen up beach access. The community board has been mindful of the need to protect the informal character of Browns Bay's beach and reserve."

East Coast Bays Bays Community Board chair Sally Cargill says the new promenade will strengthen links between Browns Bay's town centre, beach and reserve, while providing an incentive for businesses and landlords to revamp retail sites to face the beach.

"This timely upgrade gives the key gateway to Browns Bay beach a much needed overhaul, and the new boardwalk will be a wonderful recreational asset," says Sally Cargill.

In order to create a more pedestrian-friendly environment some car parks will be removed from the lane. This loss has been minimised by design amendments made following recent public feedback.

Parallel parking at the northern end of Beach Front Lane will be retained to maximise the number of parking spaces near the playground. The car parking area at the southern end of the lane will be extended to accommodate more parking spaces.

ENDS

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