NEWS RELEASE
22 May 2008
 
Karori Town Centre receives finishing touches
 
The $5 million Karori Town Centre project is now complete following the opening of a new landscaped accessway from Karori Road to the Community Centre. 
 
The main elements of the accessway include:
A wide and well-lit walkway with seating areas.
Paving detail on the walkway which matches details around the adjacent Library.
Planting of Chinese elms along the walkway and around the open grass area adjacent to the Community Centre.
A grove of kowhai trees
A new drinking fountain and seating area adjacent to Karori Road - funded by the Karori Lions.
 
The golden totara that was removed from in front of the Lighthouse building will be replanted along the accessway in June along with new trees planted in the nearby town square..
 
Andy Foster – the Council’s Urban Development and Transport Portfolio Leader and local Ward Councillor – says the recent completion of the accessway gives people direct access to the Community Centre from the Mall and from the Campbell Street side of the block, brings much needed greenery into Karori’s town centre, and another place to sit and relax.
 
The foundation stone from the St John’s Church Hall, demolished in September 2007 to provide space for the Town Centre development, has been incorporated into the seating area. Cr Foster says the accessway and seating area “is simple but highly attractive.”
 
“We think it’ll become a great spot for stalls and other community activities.”
 
In addition to the landscaping at the Karori Road end of the accessway, the parking area in front of the Community Centre has been re-configured to provide room for a new footpath to improve safety.
 
The Karori upgrade started in 2003 as part of a 10-year programme by the City Council to revitalise the city’s suburban centres. The Karori project has been principally focused on improving the Council-owned community facilities in the town centre. The key elements of the project are:
New library and café
New community centre
Pedestrian linkage of all community facilities to each other and to public parking
New public open spaces
Road safety improvements including traffic lights at the Parkvale-Karori Road intersection
The creation of a future development site – previously occupied by the St John’s hall and the Lighthouse building - on the corner of Karori Road and Campbell Street.
 
Cr Foster says the land adjacent to the Community Centre at the end of the accessway has been made available to the Karori Community Centre and Karori Community Hall Replacement Committee for up to five years for the purpose of building a community hall.
 
The land formerly occupied by the lighthouse building will be left clear and tidy until a decision is made of the future use of the St John’s site.  The future use of this site will be discussed with affected and interested parties and a report will be presented to the Council by the end of this year.
 
ends
 

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