Major projects gain momentum in Papakura

The centre of Papakura is in the final stages of its $6.1 million transformation, with contractors adding the finishing touches to the town square and a final major project set to take place in early 2009.

The enhancement of the town square area includes a new mini-stage for small events and performances, a water feature, new lighting, a signature paving design and formal and informal seating.

Plans are now under way to revamp and refurbish the clock to bring it into line with the rest of the new look, and the clock itself has this week been removed and will be either repaired or replaced.

Meanwhile at the northern edge of the town centre there’s a fresh new look at the village green, creating a “northern gateway” to the central business area. New gardens, new seats, landscape lights, rubbish bins and street lights enhance the look of the area and create a pleasant place for people to meet.

Nikau palms have been planted on the edge of the new garden and new internally-lit “marker poles” have been installed to create a sense of arrival as people approach the town centre from the north on Great South Road.

The village green’s old concrete toilet block has been demolished to make way for a new three-stall unit similar to those already installed at Roselands, Ray Small Park and alongside the new playground at Central Park. The new toilet has been commissioned just in time for the busy school holiday period, serving the high numbers of children and families who use the nearby playground at this time of year.

In O’Shannessey Street and Great South Road new “tulip” lights indicate the pedestrian crossings and create a pleasant environment after dark.

Great South Road’s seating for users of local bus services are also under review in response to feedback from businesses.

Papakura District Council’s contractors are in the final stages of each of these parts of the project, connecting new lights, working on the finishing touches to the water feature in the town square and completing kerbing for the new disability parking spaces approved by Council.

The final major phase of the project, enhancements to bring Railway Street West into the town centre’s “look”, will begin after Christmas. This will also include work in Wood Street to East Street and additional work in the southern end of Great South Road between Wood and Averill Streets.