Whau Local Board is delighted its Avondale Open Streets project is to be funded through the new Ngā Tiriti Ngangahau - The Vibrant Streets Programme.
The Vibrant Streets is a $3million, three-year programme to be delivered by Auckland Transport as part of this climate action package and is aligned to Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan, which seeks to improve active modes access and infrastructure as a part of reducing transport emissions.
The project will deliver a series of events, activations and markets with an ‘open streets’ element by making part of Avondale Town Centre temporarily car-free.
Thrilled
Whau Local Board Chair, Kay Thomas, says the board is thrilled the project is to be funded.
“This is fantastic news for Avondale,” she says.
“The town centre is a creative and cultural hub, and these projects will really help to bring it to life like never before.
“Whau Local Board is committed to doing all it can to promote and enable active modes of transport such as walking and cycling, which you can see through our commitment to Te Whau Pathway and our recent refresh of the Whau Greenways Plan, that providing options for our communities to not need to use the car is high on our list of priorities.
“My personal thanks to the endeavour of board member Jessica Rose and Avondale Main Street for reaching this point, and I can’t wait to see the projects in action.”
Positive elements
Member Jessica Rose, who is a keen cycling advocate, says the projects will have many positive elements.
“Not only will these projects provide the community with an opportunity to utilise the streets without cars, but there are also many positive benefits to the proposals.
“In addition to the obvious health benefits from active transport, these local activations will encourage greater engagement with the local economy, with businesses in Avondale set to see an increase in foot traffic because of them.
“It will also help encourage people to see how normal and beneficial it can be to pedestrianize areas of the town centre, and how much more welcoming and community focussed a place it will be.”
Projects will be created through a co-design process with the community, and will also be 10 per cent funded by the local board.
