Fort Street area upgrade
Background |
About the area |
Final design |
Design features |
Public feedback
Public feedback
Draft concept design consultation
Public consultation on the draft design ran in
September 2009. Public feedback and advice from council officers and specialist
advisers was taken into consideration by the council's Arts, Culture and
Recreation Committee and Transport Committee who approved a final concept
design in December 2009.
Although there was widespread support for upgrading and revitalising the area, some opposition was raised to specific aspects within the design. While some of issues raised during consultation have now been resolved, other aspects will be confirmed in the next stages of design following further input from stakeholders.
Key themes that arose from the consultation process
include:
- overall support for the
upgrade and the design of the area
- where shared space was
supported, generally so were the proposals around parking and loading
- opposition to specific
design elements, particularly shared space, generally related to pedestrian priority,
vehicle access and the removal of parking
- some felt introducing
shared space and removing
parking would have a detrimental affect on local businesses and residents
- general support for
design features – artwork, lighting, paving, trees
- various comments about
traffic flow and bus access in the area
- some concerns about ongoing
maintenance.
Feedback from consultation as well as specialist advisers resulted in a
number of changes and refinements to the final design. These changes have been
incorporated into the final concept design.
Some aspects
of the design identified during consultation will be confirmed in the next
stages of design, with further input from stakeholders. These include the
traffic direction in Jean Batten Place and the final parking plan, including the
restrictions for both parking and loading in the area.
The first stage shared space (Fort Street west and Jean Batten Place) will be
evaluated prior to the final configuration being determined for stage 3 (Fort
Street east). Stakeholders will be invited to participate in this process.
A number of
other elements not currently part of the project are dependant on additional
funding. These include a raised vehicle crossing at Shortland Street, water
collection for trees, the proposed tidal marker and a public toilet.
Planning the upgrade
In planning the upgrade in late 2008, we asked nearby businesses, property
owners, residents and users of the street what they valued about the Fort Street
area and what their key priorities were for upgrading. We heard that priorities
for improvement in the area were:
- wider and better quality footpaths
- more planting, vegetation and trees
- a cleaner more attractive street environment
- better lighting and security.
This feedback informed the project objectives
Find out more
If you wish to find out more about the Fort Street area
upgrade or other projects under the 10-year CBD streetscapes and open spaces
programme then please contact us.
Published December 2009
