Multimodal exploring around Tāmaki Makaurau No.4
A deeper look into urbanism and transport I checked out during my multimodal adventures.
This article is a continuation of the multimodal exploring series. In this series, I take a deeper look into what I checked out in urbanism and transport during my multimodal adventures, with the one discussed in this article, done yesterday.
The adventure began at the Downtown Ferry Terminal, heading under the harbour bridge on the ferry to go to Hobsonville Point, where we get an update on the Catalina Bay apartments, located on the ferry terminals doorstep. The exterior of the 82 apartment complex has been unwrapped and now, work has mainly focused on the interior fit-out. Close by is Jimmys Point, an apartment building currently under construction that is being delivered as part of the Launch Bay development by Winton. It will deliver 30 new homes and just like the Catalina Bay apartments, it will have waterfront views of the harbour and is close to bus stops for the 112 and 114 to Westgate, Hobsonville Point ferry terminal and Catalina Bay farmers market.
The development of Hobsonville Point and the neighbouring Scott Point is taking shape with more apartments and townhouses being completed with amenities and infrastructure being delivered as part of the masterplan of these developments such as green spaces to improve community wellbeing and areas for sporting and recreational events to be held. Rain gardens were installed and street trees have been planted to increase tree canopy and make the area more resilient to major rainfall events by reducing stormwater runoff.
Bus shelters, pedestrian links and cycle lanes have to support public transport services and create safe and connected journeys by walking and cycling to schools, supermarkets, shops and the Hobsonville Point ferry terminal.
On Hobsonville Rd, opposite the War Memorial Park is the recently completed Te Uru Apartments by Fletcher Living. The apartment complex consists of 58 homes in 3 four-storey buildings. On the doorstep of these apartments are a supermarket, shops, eateries and bus stops for the 112, 114 and 120. There’s also a car-sharing service available to residents.
I joined the Northwestern Path at Westgate and headed east to check out the progress of Te Whau Pathway, a shared path under construction that goes from Te Atatū, joining the Northwestern Path south of Te Atatū Interchange to Green Bay to create a separate walking and cycling connection between the Waitematā and Manukau Harbour via Kelston, Avondale, New Lynn and Blockhouse Bay. Currently, construction is ongoing on the project between the Northwestern Path and Roberts Field.
I head back west and then south via Henderson Creek and Oratia Stream Path to Glen Eden to have a look around Selo: a master-planned townhouse development off West Coast Rd opposite Parrs Park. The development features green spaces, a playground, a picnic area, secure bike parking and rain gardens installed throughout the development. The development is close to bus stops for the 154 to connect to Henderson, New Lynn and Glen Eden Town Centre. The 154 will eventually to upgraded to a frequent bus route to become the 15 as part of improvements funded by the Climate Action Transport Targeted Rate (CATTR).
I went into Glen Eden Town Centre to have a look at the micromobility hub at Glen Eden Station, which is being delivered as a pilot by The University of Auckland in collaboration with Beam and Big Street Bikers with covered secure bike and scooter parking with e-bikes and scooters to hire for the first and last leg of their journey, enabling more multimodal trips. I previously discussed how micromobility hubs could help enable more multimodal trips in the article below.
A short walk from Glen Eden Station is a series of apartment buildings under construction, not too far from completion on the corner of Glenview Rd and Glenorchy St.
My next stop is the Streets for People trial on St Leonards Rd, this trial involves installing traffic calming on this stretch of road and at intersections through the use of tactical urbanism such as planter boxes, flexi- posts and speed cushions to create safer streets for kids to walk and bike to and from school. Improvements are planned to be made to create a safer environment for travelling around New Lynn and Kelston by bike, as part of the cycling improvements funded by CATTR.
I biked along the New Lynn to Avondale Path and briefly stopped to have a look at a Kāinga Ora development currently under construction on Donegal Street, which will deliver 31 new homes when the development is completed in early 2025. The development will join other Kāinga Ora developments that have been completed in Avondale such as the 236-apartment Highbury Triangle development on Great North Rd, which has recently been completed and the development on St Georges Rd, which was completed in late 2021, delivering 102 homes.
Following that, I headed over to Avondale Station to catch the Western Line train back to Waitematā Station where the adventure concluded.
It’s great to read about (and see images of) these new higher density developments.
One question: What’s a rain garden?