New Report contains severe critique of Panuku's Takapuna town square plan - important meeting tomorrow afternoon
Takapuna is designated a Metropolitan Centre in the Unitary Plan. The way it develops in the future is extremely important to Milford people. As we all know, Milford has no civic amenities and residents have to travel to Takapuna to access such things as a library, swimming pool and Council community centres.
Everyone is probably aware of the divided views on how the 40 Anzac Street site (present carpark) should be developed into both a town square and apartment developments. A new independent report by architect and urban planner, Richard Reid, commissioned by the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board, has offered a significant critique of the current Panuku proposals. The Reid Report states that Panuku's proposed town squares are far smaller in size than what Council's own plans 'require' for a metropolitan centre. Additionally, the 'squares' are not public squares that will entice people to stop and linger but are just throughways with insufficient sunshine at critical times of the year.
The Reid Report needs to be taken seriously by Council and Panuku and not just brushed aside. If the critiques are correct, Takapuna (and the lower North Shore including Milford) are being short-changed in the Panuku proposals and we will not end up with the vibrant and viable metropolitan public space they claim.
This meeting tomorrow afternoon is a last chance to understand the issues and what's at stake.
