Revised road plans for Mission Bay and St Heliers set for release in New Year

Friday, 22 November 2019

A video overview of AT's original plan which would have created 13 new pedestrian crossings and removed 40 car parking spaces in the St Heliers town centre (Video first published April 10, 2019).

New proposals for roading changes in Auckland's Mission Bay and St Heliers could be announced in the New Year.

In March Auckland Transport (AT) outlined plans to remove 74 parking spaces along Tamaki Drive and introduce 22 new pedestrian crossings in the two town centres, as well as speed bumps.

But many residents felt the changes would severely impact traffic flow through Mission Bay and St Heliers, while the removal of parking would affect local businesses.

The story made headlines in April when AT pulled out of a public meeting at the St Heliers Community Centre to explain its plans, citing a threat to the safety of its staff. Then in May AT announced it had suspended its plans and would instead form two working groups with local groups to find a solution to the area's traffic safety issues.

An artist's impression of AT's original proposed roading plans for Mission Bay that were released in March.

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St Heliers real estate agent Hamish McKay says parking in the area is already diabolical and he will be watching what AT comes back with in the New Year with interest.

'We are making quite good progress,' Mission Bay-Kohimarama Residents Association chair Don Stock said this week.'I don't know the timing, but it's probably going to be early next year that we will come out with our recommendations.'

St Heliers real estate agent Hamish McKay said parking was already an issue for businesses in the area and he hoped AT took on board the concerns of locals.

'I'm hoping we keep the status quo. Sure sometimes of the day it's diabolical trying to get a park here,' McKay said. 'But I just can't see rationale behind changing what already works now. It seems like change for change's sake.'

AT said feedback from the working groups and the public would be used to look at the proposed designs and see what amendments could be made. But no current timeline had been set for when the physical changes will take place.