Transport Projects Planned

By Local Board member Louise Johnston

ver the next couple of months, headlines will be dominated by budget cuts. There will be tough decisions for Auckland Council, Central Government, and businesses. The clean up for the storm damage for Auckland Transport, in Rodney alone is estimated to cost approximately $50 million and will be heavily subsidised by Waka Kotahi (i.e. Central Government).

There will need to be fundamental changes to how Council operates and what services it provides to Aucklanders.

The $150 annual Rodney Local Board transport targeted rate cannot be reallocated to help plug this budget short fall. This is ‘ring fenced’ funding and can only be used for transport projects within the subdivision that collected it. When the targeted rate was struck in 2018, it was for a period of 10 years, however with all the additional housing growth this may be paid off before the 10 years is up.

Following are details of our latest targeted rate projects for the Coatesville area.

Shown above is Auckland Transport's draft design for the new carparks and footpath along Glenmore Road and the design for the pedestrian crossing by the dairy is shown right. This crossing will be raised and will force vehicles to slow down. While we have the option to move the location of the pedestrian crossing, there is a requirement that it is raised. There has also been preliminary discussion about the possibility of lowering the speed limit through the Coatesville Village. Can you please get back to me by email with any comments about these designs by 20 April.

After much discussion with AT, the bus stops on Coatesville Riverhead Highway by Gold Flats and Lewis Lane are going to be redesigned.

This change will not be funded by the transport targeted rate. The new design will help develop a new rural design bus stop standard. Thank you to everybody that provided feedback and highlighted the safety issues around these bus stops.

Recently, a number of residents have contacted me regarding the overcrowding of the 126 bus service that travels from Westgate to Albany via Coatesville. AT are currently working with the operator to try and get a larger bus allocated to the 7:00am trip to Albany. AT are intending to increase the frequency of this service from hourly to halfhourly between Riverhead and Albany at peak times. Unfortunately, due to budget constraints this has had to be deferred. However, please continue to contact AT directly about this and I understand that a public meeting is being organised. We really need to push for these additional peak time buses because the traffic is only getting worse on the Albany hill.

Lastly, the Healthy Water department at Council have been surveying the Rangitopuni Stream and identifying storm debris for removal by specialist teams. To report storm debris in streams please call Council Call Centre 09 301 0101

Please get in contact with your questions and comments Louise. Johnston@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz