Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand, with a population of about 1,534,700. It’s located on the North Island, and is a diverse and multicultural city. It’s home to the largest Polynesian population in the world, primarily Māori.
On March 6, 2018, the Auckland Council’s Planning Committee gave the green light to plans that will revitalize two of the city’s most prominent and well-known town centers. It will improve transport connections to and from the town centre, reinvigorate the mainstreet and reconnect the community with its surrounding natural features.
The approved the city’s regeneration agency Panuku Development Auckland to lead the renovation of Panmure town centre, in partnership with the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board, Auckland Council and mana whenua
Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board chair Debbie Burrows says the Local Board is looking forward to working with Panuku to bring the plan to life. “This plan realises a shared vision of creating a thriving and vibrant mainstreet with improved transport connections while strengthening links to local nature spaces.” she says. “It’s an exciting project that will actively involve the wider community and produce an outcome that we can all be proud of.”
Panuku Chief Operating Officer David Rankin says the plan sets out what lies ahead for Panmure for the next 15-20 years, during which time the population is expect to almost double. “Panmure is well-located town centre with strong public transport and road links to the wider Auckland region,” he explained.
Panuku will work closely with Tāmaki Regeneration Company (TRC), which will deliver 7500 new homes across Tāmaki over the next 15-20 years.
A multi-purpose community facility with a civic space is envisaged at the heart of the town centre where the community could access key facilities such as a library and a community centre.
Mixed-use housing development will increase the number of homes and expand the diversity of services on offer to the community.
TRC Chief Executive John Holyoake says he is excited to be working alongside Panuku on the revitalisation of Panmure, and, in unlocking the potential of the local business area, more people will be drawn into the town centre, which has the potential to create new jobs for Tāmaki residents.
“The project is key to the success of TRC’s Tāmaki Regeneration Programme which, while will deliver thousands of new homes across Tāmaki and all the additional investment in infrastructure and community amenity needed, this is not the end goal,” said Holyoake. “The physical redevelopment of a community is primarily a tool to transform the lives of the people living here now, and for generations to come.”
Throughout the project, Panuku will also partner with Auckland Transport, who expects to begin the next phase of the Auckland Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative (AMETI) Eastern Busway from Panmure to Pakuranga in mid-2018.
The Committee agreed to the Unlock Panmure High Level Project Plan to revitalize the Panmure town centre, and to change the use of 40 Anzac Street, Takapuna for development of well-designed public spaces, new homes and employment opportunities and new convenient local car parking in central Takapuna.
Panuku Development Auckland will oversee the revitaliaation of Takapuna working alongside the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board to continue discussions with the community.
Photo of Auckland skyline viewed from Maungawhau / Mount Eden is by Christian Mehlführer via Wikipedia.