Changes to Gore's streets coming as 'Streets Alive' programme begins

Tuesday, 2 March 2021

A courtesy crossing will be added to Broughton St as part of the Gore District Council's Streets Alive programme.

It will be the biggest change to Gore’s streets since the infamous centre parks were removed from Main St.

More than 400 planters, pocket parks and a ‘jellybean roundabout’ will transform the streets of Gore this month as the Gore District Council rolls out it’s ‘Streets Alive’ project.

Throughout March a series of initiatives designed to make Gore’s streets safer, more accessible and to promote being more active will appear throughout the town, as part of a three-month trial. The council has spent $100,000 on the project, with a further $900,000 coming from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s Innovative Streets fund.

Street art had already been painted on walls around the town as part of the project, which had been popular with residents, but Gore District Council roading asset manager and project lead Peter Standring said the council appreciated some of the next trials would be challenging for people, and even frustrating.

* Gore's Streets Alive trials to be rolled out in March

Pocket parks will be established at Anzac and Robertson streets as part of the Gore District Council's Streets Alive programme.

* Gore district councillor blasts council for lack of consultation -

* Gore's 'Streets Alive' trials to be rolled out in the new year

A pocket park will be added at the south end of Broughton St as part of the Gore District Council's Streets Alive programme.

“At first glance people may wonder how temporarily blocking off one end of Broughton and Eccles streets could help ease speed and congestion. It’s important to look at the big picture – they are about calming traffic in areas where speed and traffic column are becoming an issue.’’

In November last year, councillor Doug Grant blasted the council about a lack of consultation after learning that the council planned to trial the closure of Irk St by reading about it in the newspaper.

Following consultation with retailers, parklets with cafe-style seating would be introduced on Irk St, and it would remain open to traffic.

“Retailers biggest concern was about parking, but this project is also about making it are more desirable area to come and shop,’’ Standring said.

And while there would be changes in the central business area, some of the biggest changes for motorists would be in residential streets.

The council had consulted with residents as part of the $1 million project, and as a result had focussed on safer road crossings, easing traffic congestion and improving safety, connecting spaces and places, signage and wayfinding creative street spaces and having a more pedestrian-friendly places.

In five locations, a pocket park would be used to partially or fully block off a street, and 45 courtesy crossings would be introduced.

Seven new roundabouts, including a ‘jellybean’ shaped roundabout at the intersection of Broughton, Pomona and Crombie streets, would also be painted on to streets.

A cycleway creating a safe passage through town would be introduced, and a play trail would be established with the help of Sport Southland,

Standring said safety was paramount and if any initiative proved to be unsafe for road users then it would be removed. Signage warning motorists that there was a new traffic layout would be put up.

Gore district mayor Tracy Hicks said change was the one constant in life, but it was something that people struggled with.

“I can remember when the council proposed to remove the centre parks from Main St, and there was some staunch opposition from within and outside of council – myself included. I was on the wrong side of that argument and I believe what we have now is that than what we ever had before in terms of doing business.

“Not all of this will be unanimously endorsed and not all of it will be successful but if we don't try, we don’t know.’’

It was important residents gave the council feedback on the trials during the three months, so that the council could decide which trials would become permanent.