Focus group and drop-in sessions held for Ferry Road

More than 200 people have taken part in Council-led Suburban Centres Programme focus group and drop-in sessions on the recovery of the Ferry Road / Main Road corridor over the past week.

Programme Manager, Healthy Environment Jenny Ridgen says the sessions were organised to help the Council find out local knowledge and gather information vital to the recovery and rebuild of the Ferry Road / Main Road corridor, a key arterial that connects the city to the sea.

“We want to understand the issues that affect this corridor and to also find out what people want for the future of their area. People came with a wide range of information and ideas, but there were consistent themes coming through. People liked the idea of creating a village identity for Woolston and an edgy industrial feel for Ferrymead, making these ‘people friendly’ areas that have a better connection to the river and the sea.

“Other ideas included a cycle lane along the Heathcote River, better pedestrian spaces and street plantings. Traffic issues, improving access to public spaces and providing safe crossings also featured,” she says.

“Initially we are focussing on the area between the city (Fitzgerald Avenue) and the Ferrymead Bridge. This is to make the process more manageable. The other portion of Ferry Road / Main Road will be addressed at a later date,” she says.

Mayor Bob Parker says the knowledge and direction the Council is given by the community is crucial to the development of a community agreed, long term vision of how this area may look and function.

“We must work together to achieve a vision that considers the vital role this corridor has as an important strategic transportation route, while achieving a good quality of life for the people who visit, work and live in this area.

“It is essential that we continue to hear from the community, their involvement is a major aspect of developing a liveable, prosperous and vibrant future for this area, that has implications for the development of the city as a whole,” he says.

The wide range of information gathered at these Council-led sessions will now be used in the ‘design element’ of the master plan process, providing an opportunity for Council staff to discuss how suggestions and ideas from the community could work, and test them against current best practice. Ideas and options will be presented in the draft master plan, which the Council aims to consult on in April 2012.

For further information on the project contact: suburbancentres@ccc.govt.nz.

Or visit: www.ccc.govt.nz/suburbancentres