Nor'West News: September 27, 2016

Papanui Rd Congestion
Ever since the Northlands mall expansion Papanui Rd congestion has become an issue.
I favour HOV (High Occupany Vehicle) access to the bus lane on Papanui Rd. This would
allow cars with two or more occupants (what Auckland calls "T2") to co-use the bus-lane
from 3-6pm weekdays (it is empty most of this time) to help clear northbound cars. Super
Shuttles already use it. Why can't we?
.
apanui Commercial
ntensification?
aving lived on several streets off Papanui
d (Grants Rd, Tomes Rd-Rutland St), I've
ndured –as we all have– the increasing
raffic congestion on Papanui Rd. With it
as come commercial intensification (such
s NZ's largest Mitre10 MEGA store on
arewood Rd and the new industrial parks
n Langdons Rd). Added to that the
arthquake transferance to NW
hristchurch we have added challenges to
hat has been a residential suburb since
he 1830s with heritage significance.!
'm not saying this is either good or bad.
he question is the future interplay and
ressures of this growing commercialsation
alongside the traditional residential
ulture of Papanui since its beginning. It's
omething we should discuss.!
here is the added impact of more light
ndustrial traffic around the five schools on
r just off Papanui Rd: St Andrews, St
argarets, Heaton Intermediate, Paparoa
treet school and Grants Rd Seventh Day
dventist school. We will be forced to plan
o alleviate these stresses and to think
reatively to preserve the pleasant
esidential nature of our ward. !
Go Local
You've probably noticed in recent years that
almost every other residential property on
Papanui Rd has been bought up and
transformed in to a commercial business
(especially para-health entities: dentists;
eye, ear facilities; physiotherapy; podiatry;
etc). Papanui Rd south of Merivale is now
almost completely commercial (mainly
motels) so the question for us is: do we
want the northern end of Papanui Rd from
Heaton/Innes Rds up, to go this way too and
become a commercial main street?!
!
Businesses are mushrooming and filling-in
the residential gaps between the shopping
hubs of Bealey Ave – Merivale – Papanui
Shops and Northlands. This brings more
cars and noise and could choke suburban
access. Do we want Papanui divided in half
by bumper-to-bumper traffic?!
!
If elected I would survey the residents of
Papanui to ascertain the collective wisdom
of the community on this issue.
I'm A Double Dog Lover
We have two dogs. One of our favourite
walk places is a hidden treasure of
Papanui ~ St James' Park beside the
railway line. We're also frequent users of
the Styx Mill Dog Park which is a
wonderful local facility.
Selfie
Happy & Holly
.Happy