Pedestrians the winners in Queen St makeover

A $30 million upgrade of Queen St in Auckland got the go-ahead yesterday, but not before business interests cried foul at the loss of short-term parking and others sought more measures to reduce traffic and air pollution.

Building owners feared traffic calming measures and the loss of 15-minute parking bays in lower Queen St would drive shoppers away and cost retailers millions of dollars in lost sales.

Walking, cycling and public transport lobbyists wanted Auckland City Council's arts, culture and recreation committee to shelve the plan until more work was done on turning all or part of Queen St into a mall for pedestrians.

But after two years of planning, consultation and 260 submissions, the committee voted to start work on the project in September.

The laying of bluestone paving, planting trees and installing special lighting and artworks is expected to take about two years and cause disruption to business, pedestrians and traffic.

The original $23.4 million budget has risen to $30 million, including $3 million for extra canopies and upgrading the entrance to Myers Park. The project will be funded with $23.4 million from general rates over seven years, the rest of the money coming from a targeted central business district rate.

Arts chairwoman Penny Sefuiva said the project was a good compromise in light of polarised views.

Councillor Scott Milne described it as a "long and difficult process".

Downtown building owners Jon Olsen and Martin Spencer were vehemently opposed to the loss of 30, free 15-minute parking bays in lower Queen St and the banning of private motorists from using the remaining 51 free bays until 11am to provide space for service vehicles.

"The more parking the better," Mr Olsen said.

"The P15 parking is 100 per cent used. Why would you want to cut back something that is 100 per cent used?"

Dr Spencer said most of the P15 parks had been sacrificed for three new, light-controlled pedestrian crossings, when the council's own research showed one of people's biggest concerns was parking.

Further council research showed each P15 park generated $650,000 of retail sales a year, or about $19.5 million if you took away 30 parks, he said.

Heart of the City chief executive Alex Swney said his group's own research found the greatest deterrent by far for people coming into the city was the lack and cost of parking.

He said the council should better manage its carparking buildings to make it easier for shoppers to dash in and out of the city.

Mr Swney suggested a trial to make the first hour free with a shopping receipt, the second hour $5 and the third hour $6. The present off-street hourly rate is $4.50.

He said malling part of Queen St was "inevitable" in the future, an idea favoured by Walk Auckland, the Campaign for Better Transport and Cycle Action Auckland.

Auckland Regional Transport Authority head Alan Thompson said that Queen St should gradually be reduced to two traffic lanes to deter private cars and change the balance in favour of pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users.

The authority said in a submission that air pollution in Queen St was a serious health issue.