Chambers Laneway Upgrade

The concept design for the upgrade was approved by the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board in September 2023. It will deliver safer public spaces, improved pedestrian and public transport user experiences, reflect the area’s distinctive cultural history, while enhancing the local natural environment.

Improved safety.  This was a primary concern of the local board and local community. The design will:

• provide clear sightlines through removing the existing canopy and utility boxes,
• replace the existing two bus shelters with a single, more see-through structure,
• improve lighting for night-time use, which will also make existing CCTV coverage more effective,
• remove or relocate seating in difficult to see areas,
• encourage more pedestrian presence between St George St and the soon to be upgraded Stadium Reserve.

Enhanced pedestrian and public transport-user experience.  To create a more people friendly environment to linger in and move through:

• remove existing “clutter” by relocating the existing utility box and the canopy from the laneway’s entrance,
• replace the existing two bus shelters with a single, more attractive, less view-obstructing bus shelter,
• improve lighting for night-time safety,
• new paving to provide easier access and a fresh new look and feel,
• new attractive planting, while retaining significant mature trees,
• ensuring existing retail can continue to operate during the upgrade construction process.

Incorporate our distinctive mana whenua culture.  As with all significant Eke Panuku commissioned projects, the design will reflect the unique status of our mana whenua, enhancing sense of place through:

• the installation of a large mural, designed in collaboration with mana whenua, along the eastern side of the laneway.

Enhance the natural environment.

• applying water sensitive urban design (WSUD) best practice in the management of stormwater, channelling it into in-ground planters, reducing run-off into the downstream environment,
• provide a green link between the St George St and the Stadium Reserve with new planters along the laneway and retaining the existing mature totara and puriri trees.

Following the local board's approval, we are now moving into detailed design for the project and preparing the necessary consents.

The laneway plan can be found in the agenda here (page 15).