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AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL

MEDIA RELEASE

21 December 2006

New look for the new year for lower Khartoum Place

The $1.05 million lower Khartoum Place revitalisation begins 3 January 2007 with completion due in April 2007.

Khartoum Place is bounded by Lorne Street and Kitchener Street and is one of Auckland City’s most distinctive and intimate urban open spaces.

The key elements of this upgrade include:

- preservation of the tile artwork “Women's Centenary (1893-1993)”

- new paving, furniture and lighting

- improved stairs and landings

- maintenance work on the fountains.

The key objectives of the upgrade include making Khartoum Place an enjoyable, attractive, safer, day and night-time pedestrian-focused environment, as well as an area for quiet recreation, people watching, meeting friends, special events and performances.

Mayor of Auckland city Dick Hubbard says, “revitalising lower Khartoum Place is a very important part of developing the Aotea Quarter, which aims to connect different people and different arts with creative expression and civic activity.

“We want to design a vibrant civic core with a cultural heart and Khartoum Place is one of our first steps towards this.”

The upgrade is part of Auckland City’s 10-year action plan to transform and revitalise the CBD as one of the world’s most vibrant and dynamic business and cultural centres.

The upgrade is also part of the $134 million 10-year streetscapes and open space upgrade programme that also includes the upgrades of Queen Street, Quay Street, Beach Road, Karangahape Road and Lorne Street.

The upgrade of Upper Khartoum Place is currently planned for 2009 to coincide with the redevelopment of the Auckland Art Gallery.

Ends

NOTES:

For more information visit www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/cbd

The stairs will be closed from 3 January to end of February, and there will be no through access.

Access will be via:

- the New Gallery escalator (from 6 January) between 7am and 5pm Monday to Friday, and between 9am and 5pm weekends

- Wellesley Street east

- 2-12 Kitchener Street Wilson carpark (between 6am and midnight Sunday to Thursday, and between 6am and 2am Friday to Saturday).

Hours of work

3 to 5 January 2007

This is the time for high demolition works, which means that lower Khartoum Place will be completely closed, and there will be major disruption of equipment, noise and dust. Over the three days the concrete and pavers will be cut and removed.

Work will be undertaken from 7am right through to 6pm with no breaks. This has been discussed and accepted by neighbouring businesses and residents.

6 January to April 2007

Hours will generally be:

- between 7am and 6pm Monday to Friday with no noisy works in front of premises serving food between noon to 2pm

- between 8am and 1pm Saturday

- no work to take place on Sundays or public holidays

- working hours may be extended in order to shorten the upgrade period.

The following image is an artist’s impression of how lower Khartoum Place will look after the upgrade.

Click to enlarge

The second stage of work on Lorne Street will be happening at the same time as works on Khartoum Place.

Lorne Street work will run from the Victoria Street intersection down to the precinct apartments and will see improvements to the existing footpath through widening, laying of new basalt paving, installation of new street furniture and installation of the remaining four text art stone seats.

Lorne Street is scheduled for completion 31 March 2007.

ENDS

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