A safer Orewa town centre by Christmas
Orewa locals will find it safer and easier to move around their vibrant town centre soon, as Auckland Transport (AT) confirms new safety improvements to be in by Christmas.
AT recently consulted with Orewa locals on safety improvements to make it safer to walk, cycle, or scoot around the town centre.
The improvements include new raised pedestrian crossings, speed bumps, and new side islands on entry to the town centre – which will encourage safe vehicle speeds.
After carefully considering all feedback from consultation, AT confirms the safety improvements proposal will now be going ahead. Construction is likely to start in September and be complete by November, ahead of the Santa Parade and the busy summer season.
AT will also be extending a 30km/h speed limit to Orewa Town Centre on 30 November as part of its safe speeds programme. These safety improvements will complement the speed limit change and help ensure people adhere to the new limit.
AT’s Group Manager Network Management, Randhir Karma, says the safety improvements were looked at in partnership with Hibiscus and Bays Local Board and
Destination Orewa Beach business association - to make sure the local community was well represented in the co-design process.
“We had great input from these groups and were able to work together to propose improvements that will make getting around Orewa safer,” says Mr Karma.
Hibiscus and Bays Local Board chair Gary Brown thinks the changes will be great for Orewa.
“We are committed to making sure Orewa is a place where people feel safe and enjoy walking or biking around,” he says.
“These changes will help ensure everyone is being mindful of each other and it will reduce the risk of serious injuries happening in our busy town centre.”
Hellen Wilkins, Manager of Destination Orewa Beach agrees.
“The changes will be positive for local businesses. We are pleased to work together to address some of the safety issues we have seen. It’s a busy area, and these changes will make sure people can cross the road safely to the shops and enjoy our town centre.”
The improvements will be made possible through the Regional Fuel Tax.
AT in partnership with Hibiscus and Bays Local Board also asked for public feedback on the boulevard proposal to add a new paved footpath outside the shops and shared path through the reserve, which will make it easier to walk and bike around.
AT and the Local Board are reviewing feedback on this and will update submitters on the outcome for this part of the project once confirmed.