Te Atatu Peninsula Town Centre

Introduction

Te Atatu Peninsula "Mainstreet"

Te Atatu Peninsula was first inhabited in the early 1840's with people living on the banks of the Taimata Creek, growing potatoes, kumara, and other vegetables, and digging Kauri gum for trade. The Te Atatu Peninsula Town Centre came later. It began as a small group of shops servicing an expanding suburban area, which came to life following the construction of the motorway (State Highway 16) in 1956.

In the last 10 years the Peninsula has experienced significant population growth and a changing demographic. The people living on the Peninsula represent a broad range of age groups and an increasingly diverse ethnic mix.

The Te Atatu Peninsula shopping and commercial area is identified as a Town Centre in the Growth Management Strategy for Waitakere. It is predicted that there will be higher levels of growth in the centre than in other parts of the city. These predictions are supported by recent growth statistics. Further planning for this centre has to respond to the needs of this changing population.

Town Centre Vision

The vision for the future of Te Atatu Peninsula began with public discussion in November 1999. 

The community asked for:

• A 'Heart' to bind together the town centres commercial and residential areas.
• A Village Green where people can idle away some time and relax.
• A safe place, well lit, which also includes some special features such as public artwork.
• A 'people place not dominated by vehicles and a great children's playground.

The Council developed a draft Concept Plan with the help of the local community, the Council developed a draft Concept Plan, which incorporated a Village Green concept and integrated the existing retail areas, with new retail and commercial development. Following the development of this draft Concept Plan the Council approved funding in 2001 for the re-development of Jack Pringle Park as a Village Green.  The Council also funded a number of new artworks in the Town Centre, and worked with the community to revitalise the mainstreet by introducing themed lighting and street furniture.

In 2007 the Council prioritised a new programme of work to review the (1999) draft Concept Plan and to finalise a new Town Centre concept to respond to high population growth projections, and to address the needs of the changing population and the local market.  This work was undertaken so that the Council could plan for population growth in Te Atatu Peninsula in a manner that would improve the amenity in the town centre.  It was intended that this Town Centre concept would provide a framework for strategic Council decision-making around future planning and investment.

This exercise began with a public meeting in February 2007, and a series of targeted focus groups in June and July 2007. The Council assessed the community feedback, considered inputs from the transport, infrastructure, parks and urban design departments, and put together a revised Concept Plan which was presented to the community in draft form in July 2008.

On 4 December 2008 the Te Atatu Peninsula Town Centre Concept and Implementation Plan (TCCIP) was adopted by the Policy and Strategy Committee as a framework to guide future planning on the Peninsula and included recommended actions to manage growth and enhance the town centre.

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Te Atatu Peninsula Town Centre Concept and Implementation Plan (Size 2463K)

Future Development Concept for the Te Atatu Peninsula Town Centre Design Click to enlarge

This Concept Plan identifies six different character areas and makes recommendations about where these areas could be enhanced over time. The Council's ongoing work programme will be to consider how each of these recommended actions can be implemented over different timeframes and resourced through the Long Term Council Community Plan.  The six character areas are: Mainstreet Precinct; Town Centre Core Library and Community Centre Precinct, Northern Shops and Kumatua Precinct, Gunner Drive Commercial Area and Gateway Precinct and providing for Residential Intensification and Housing Choice within a 5 minute walk of the Town Centre.

Te Atatu Peninsula Library & Community Centre Redevelopment

Auckland Council is building a new community centre and library for Te Atatu Peninsula.

Read more about this project on the Auckland Council website

Jack Pringle Park

In 2002 Jack Pringle Park became a Village Green when Pringle Road was diverted and the road through the park was replaced with an additional area of reserve. This was completed by a number of new artworks, planting and a children's play area. Jack Pringle Park has continued to play an important role in the Te Atatu Peninsula Town Centre.

The Reserve Management Plan has been prepared for the Te Atatu Peninsula Town Centre Reserves, including Jack Pringle Park. This is named the Te Atatu Town Centre Reserve Management Plan and was adopted by Council in 1999.

This Reserve Management Plan will be superseded by the draft Henderson Ward Local Reserves Management Plan which is currently being prepared. The draft Henderson Ward Local Reserves Management Plan incorporates all local reserves in the Henderson Ward, including Jack Pringle Park and the Te Atatu Peninsula Town Centre Reserves. This draft Reserve Management Plan will be available for public comment and review in late 2008, and will incorporate landscape design proposals to Jack Pringle Park and the Town Centre Reserves in line with the Te Atatu Town Centre redevelopments.

 For more information about the reserve management plan review process click here.

Jack Pringle Park

Town Centre Artworks

When Jack Pringle Park was redeveloped artists came up with concept plans for the pavilion and maze as well as an entranceway to the green.
 

The ground maze

Beach themed playground

Gateway and pavilion

Park furniture

Te Atatu Peninsula Business Improvement District

A Town Centre Strategic Partnership Programme  has been developed in Te Atatu Peninsula. The Peninsula's Town Centre became the first town centre in Waitakere to create a Business Improvement District - or BID. The Te Atatu Peninsula BID was launched on 16 July 2008.

Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse attends the  Te Atatu Peninsula BID launch	Attendees at the BID launch	Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse and Councillors at  the Te Atatu Peninsula BID launch

Te Atatu Peninsula BIDA committee members

A number of town centre stakeholders have formed a Business Improvement District Association BIDA as part of the Town Centre Strategic Partnership Programme. This process involves enhancing their town centre in partnership with Waitakere City Council with funding via targeted rate.

Members of the committee are as follows:  

For more information or to get involved contact the chair of the BIDA.

Other Relevant Information

There are a number of planning documents and agreements covering this area.  They include:

• The Waitakere City Growth Management Strategy
• TAP Business Plan  (Size 24K)
• BID Policy
• Model Rules

Te Atatu Peninsula Business Improvement District (BID) boundary map

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Te Atatu Peninsula Business Improvement District (BID) boundary map (Size 185K)