Upgrade news archives

Pictured above: Edoardo Canal (Project Manager) and Cameron Brewer (Newmarket Business Association) with the Timaru Bluestone pavers.

 

Other useful information

 

On street carparks will not be available in the area of work.

In most cases, standard loading zones will not be available in the area of work.Delivery vehicle access will be restricted while barriers are on the footpath.  We recommend you contact your regular courier companies to advise them of alternative drop off points.  If you are expecting a special or unusual delivery while works are taking place in your surrounding area, please contact P & M Paving's Newmarket ambassador Mark McManus on 027 492 1601 to discuss delivery options.

Event Planning

Where possible, we recommend you plan your sales and events at a time when construction is not taking place in your immediate area.  Please check the schedule of works to find out when work is due to take place in your area.  Please let the ambassador know of any special events you have planned - although work cannot stop, there may be additional ways we can minimise disruption as much as possible.

Rubbish Collection

For certain periods during construction, you may not be able to leave your rubbish at the edge of the footpath in front of your shop or business.  We will advise the council collectors to look out for rubbish at different locations.  If a private company collects your rubbish, please advise them of the same.

Emergency assembly points

Please reconsider your emergency evacuation procedures and assembly points in light of these works.

Fire Wardens

Please ensure your fire wardens are aware of the works.

Bus Stop Changes

There will be temporary changes to bus stops in the area of work. Signs will be on bus stops indicating changes, giving passengers directions to new, temporary stops.  Bus stop changes will also be listed on the Maxx website.

 

 

Broadway stage one works finished for Christmas

04 December 2007

Press release: Auckland City Council 

 

Stage one of the upgrade to Newmarket's Broadway has been completed in time for the Christmas shopping period, reports Auckland City Council.

Works have been finished on both ends of the street, outside the 277 shopping mall and the Olympic swimming pool.

The project includes new footpaths, street furniture, planting and lighting, chosen to reflect the area's special character. It will give Broadway a smart new look and boost its appeal as an attractive shopping and entertainment destination.

The council's project manager, Edoardo Canal says: "We are pleased that the project is progressing smoothly, on time and on budget. The completed section already gives Broadway a smarter and more sophisticated look and makes getting around easier and safer. We are keen to start the next phase in January."

"Newmarket is a top retail and entertainment precinct as well as a key transport hub. So far, the disruption to businesses has been minimal and we are pleased that the works are running on schedule," says Cameron Brewer, general manager of the Newmarket Business Association. "Local businesses are ready for a busy Christmas and shoppers can now enjoy the sections that are finished. Everyone thinks the Timaru Bluestone looks great."

The $6 million facelift for Broadway forms part of larger project to improve the Newmarket area. The Broadway works are due to finish in August 2008.

There will be no work over the Christmas period from 1 December to 7 January.

 

 

50-days down and going well

October 2007

 

The $6 million Broadway upgrade is so far going down very well with both shoppers and retailers alike, says Cameron Brewer, general manager of the Newmarket Business Association.

"By early December we expect to have the bookends of Broadway complete - that is outside Westfield 277 and across the road, and at the other end of Broadway outside and opposite the Olympic Pools. Central Broadway from Morrow Street and Remuera Road to Khyber Pass Road will be upgraded next year.

There will be no work done during the busy retail period between 1 December and 7 January 2008, nor is work being done at the weekends.

"The Auckland City Council contractors have been working well with very little disruption to trade reported. We're also getting some extremely positive feedback about the look of the Timaru Bluestone pavers. Once it's all completed in spring next year, Newmarket will truly be a world-class shopping destination.”

After consultation with retailers the original schedule of works was this week altered, with Teed Street's entrance now not set to be temporally closed to vehicles and upgraded until January and February next year. The next Broadway section to be upgraded will be the footpath that runs from Railway Street to opposite Lumsden Green.

"The project team, headed by Edoardo Canal, has been very pragmatic and is working positively everyday with businesses and the association to iron out any issues that pop up. To date, it has all been going very smoothly.

“We also have a project ambassador walking the streets and keeping everyone informed. So far the positive comments have outnumbered any negative ones by about 20 to one,” said Mr Brewer.

 

 

Timaru lass walks on 'home soil' in Auckland

13 September 2007

 

Timaru's Alice Baillie is pleased to be walking on `home soil' every time she steps out of her Auckland office.

Former operations manager of the South Canterbury Basketball Association, Alice has the same title at her job with the Newmarket Business Association.

The NBA successfully lobbied the Auckland City Council to lay Timaru Bluestone pavers down Auckland's most popular shopping strip, Broadway.

Auckland City mayor Dick Hubbard laid the first paving stone last month to mark the beginning of Newmarket's long awaited $6m make-over.

Integral to the new look will be 22,000 Timaru bluestone pavers, which will be laid in Newmarket over the next 12 months.

The job is the biggest contract yet for Timaru Bluestone Industries.

Alice said Aucklanders have somehow convinced themselves that its their own volcanic stone, but I happily tell them it's all from South Canterbury.

Her boss, Cameron Brewer, the general manager of the Newmarket Business Association said Alice turned up just as we were deciding whether to use Chinese granite or Timaru bluestone.

"She was very convincing and in fact persuaded me to fly down to Timaru to check it all out, which I did in February.

"By March the contract was signed and so full credit to Alice."

Ironically Newmarket actually sits on a shelf of volcanic rock following ancient lava flows from neighbouring volcanoes Mt Eden, Mt Hobson and The Domain.

However, with commercial quarrying no longer permitted in central Auckland, the Auckland City Council is increasingly using Timaru bluestone to help reflect Auckland's strong volcanic heritage. Born and bred in Timaru, Alice completed a Bachelor of Education at Canterbury University before heading back home to teach physical education in schools in and around Timaru, including Timaru Girls High School before heading the basketball association.

After three years back in Timaru, Alice decided to join the northward drift last year to seek out opportunities in Auckland.

"Its great to be working in Newmarket, it's an incredibly vibrant place with something always happening and so many shops.

"Newmarket gets better every day helped by the fact that Timaru is slowing taking over the main street."

 

Mayor lays first paving stone to launch upgrade 

13 August 2007

 

 

Launching the $6m Broadway upgrade: Newmarket's Cameron Brewer, project manager Edoardo Canal, and Auckland City Mayor, Dick Hubbard.

 

Auckland City Mayor Dick Hubbard laid the first paving stone on Monday 13 August to mark the beginning of Newmarket’s long awaited $6 million make-over.

Over the next 12 months 22,000 volcanic basalt paving stones will be laid down the length of Broadway – Auckland’s leading shopping strip.

“The volcanic paving stones won considerable support during the public consultation process helped because the Auckland region is of course home to 48 volcanoes,” said Cameron Brewer, general manager of the Newmarket Business Association. 

“The irony that we’re using Timaru bluestone to help reflect Auckland’s strong volcanic heritage has been not lost on the South Islanders. We got plenty of ribbing from the locals when we went down to South Canterbury."

Mr Brewer says with Newmarket wedged between the volcanoes of Mt Eden, Mt Hobson and The Domain, the town centre actually sits on a shelf of basalt rock following ancient lava flows.

“Developers spend their lives rock blasting in Newmarket, yet because commercial quarrying is prohibited in central Auckland, stone has to be sourced from elsewhere. It’s a win-win for both the north and the south.

Mr Brewer says the Auckland City Council Newmarket contract is the biggest contract Timaru Bluestone Industries has ever had.  The company’s quarrying is viewed as relatively sustainable, leaving only light scaring on farmland in the district of Hadlow, five kilometres inland from Timaru. The basalt deposits were left after eruptions of neighbouring Mount Horrible hundreds of thousands of years earlier.

The imminent footpath construction is music to the ears of the Newmarket Business Association - the organisation that lobbied hard to get a financial commitment and start date from the Auckland City Council. Some of Broadway’s existing paving stones were laid by the former Newmarket Borough Council over 25 years ago.

"I was employed largely to pressure the council into delivering this project and to his credit Mayor Dick Hubbard committed $6million to the upgrade and had the council fast-track it by four years."

The Broadway upgrade starts on Monday 13 August at either ends of Broadway - on the Balm Street corner and outside the Olympic Pools. The construction period will be 12 months.

“We can’t wait for all the old street gardens and their timber surrounds to be ripped out and be replaced with smart stone walls and new plantings. We’re also getting new seating and brighter street lighting.

Lumsden Green will also be upgraded in 2008.

“We have all been thoroughly impressed with project leader Edoardo Canal’s pragmatism and his ability to pull the whole project together. Let’s not forget that this kilometre-long upgrade is costed at $6m. That is less than a seventh of the cost of Queen Street’s $43m upgrade. 

“Broadway will be done section by section, with a lot of heavy duty work done at night. There won't be any construction during the weekends because that’s our busiest trading time, nor will there be any work on public holidays or from 1 December to 7 January 2008.

“It’s also important to note that Newmarket businesses have not had to pay the council an additional targeted rate for their upgrade, unlike Queen Street businesses.

“Kicking off this project is a great milestone for Newmarket. We’re going to look very smart. Without doubt the upgrade will cement Newmarket’s status as the country’s premier place to shop,” says Mr Brewer.

The council installation contract was awarded to P&M Paving and Construction Ltd.

 

 

Laying the first Timaru Bluestone paver: Upgrade project manager Edoardo Canal, Newmarket's Cameron Brewer, and Auckland City Mayor Dick Hubbard.

 

Newmarket’s new look unveiled today

Press Release: Auckland City Council

13 August 2007

 

Newmarket’s Broadway is getting a fresh new look in a 12-month upgrade that starts today.

Auckland City Council’s $6 million project is in keeping with recently revamped Nuffield Street and includes:

- upgraded footpaths of natural New Zealand bluestone that will make it safer and easier for people to walk along Broadway

- high-quality street accessories including bins and seating that are functional, hard-wearing and stylish

- improved landscaping including low stone walls, magnolia and cabbage trees

- new street lighting to enhance the area.

Mayor Dick Hubbard says the multi-million dollar makeover will boost Broadway’s appeal, making it one of the most attractive shopping destinations in the country.

“Newmarket is a premier shopping and entertainment district and we want to maximise the street appeal of its main stretch. The Broadway upgrade is a key part of our plan to make our beautiful city look even better.”

Mr Hubbard says another important objective of the project is upgrading Broadway’s poor standard of footpaths.

“The pavement along Broadway is in a very sad state of disrepair at the moment. This vital work will improve safety for pedestrians and make it easier to navigate Newmarket by foot,” says Mr Hubbard.

“Our pedestrian improvements include new smooth and slip resistant paving, wider pram crossings and better pedestrian connections including a new raised zebra crossing at the intersection of Teed Street and Broadway.

“We’ve completed consultation, secured the funding, finalised the design and are now getting on with the job,” he says.

The works plan is designed to minimise the impact to shoppers and businesses as much as possible, with major construction jobs including truck movements and digging to take place at night time. The project will be staged in isolated areas, which will be completed before moving into new zones.

All traffic lanes will remain open during the day, however some parking along Broadway will be removed as the project progresses.

 

 

Upgrade starts

30 July 2007

 

Broadway's footpaths are set to be replaced with work to start on Monday 13 August. Auckland City Mayor Dick Hubbard will be in town that morning to officially launch the 12-month upgrade.

After considerable pressure from the Newmarket Business Association to fast-track the long-awaited upgrade, the council allocated $6 million and brought the project forward by four years.

Over the past year there has been much public consultation and work on the project's overall design, which will include new street furniture and lighting. On 30 July a meeting was held at the business association offices where the project team presented the schedule of works to local business-people.

“The kilometre-long upgrade from the Olympic Park roundabout to Mortimer Pass will cement Newmarket’s premier status. The Timaru Bluestone pavers are going to look very smart as they already do in the CBD’s High Street,” said Cameron Brewer of the Newmarket Business Association. 

Broadway will be done section by section, with a lot of heavy duty work done at night. There won't be any construction in the weekends, nor will there be any work during the busy Christmas and New Year period – that’s from 1 December to 7 January 2008.

Work on Broadway will start between Balm Street and Remuera Road and between Lumsden Green and the Olympic Pools. 

"The council project team and the business association will continue to communicate with businesses regularly, directly, and proactively,” said Mr Brewer.

 

Footpath work set to start August

30 May 2007. Statement from the Auckland City Council:

 

Work is well underway on developing a first class streetscape for Newmarket to match its position as a premier retail and entertainment precinct.

The final design for the $6 million upgrade by the council is complete and construction is scheduled to start in August this year. The upgrade encompasses new footpaths, street furniture, planting and lighting.

Work will be carried out at night to limit disruption and undertaken from opposite ends of Broadway to reduce the impact on businesses, shoppers and visitors. Construction will stop over the busy Christmas shopping period, between 1 December 2007 and 7 January 2008.

The council will keep people well informed leading up to and throughout the 12-month construction with clear signage, newsletters, print and radio advertising, and an on-site council ambassador.

During consultation on Newmarket’s new look in December last year, respondents opted for footpaths of Timaru bluestone, chosen for its volcanic character and because it is a New Zealand material.

Before work starts, the tender needs to be approved by the full council in July. Unfortunately there are no council meetings in June due to the annual planning process.

 

Tenders close for footpath construction

30 April 2007

 

Tenders for the construction of Broadway’s new footpaths and streetscapes closed on 24 April. “All going well the tender should be awarded by June,” with the 12-month construction following soon after that, according to Newmarket upgrade project manager Edoardo Canal. The Auckland City Council has confirmed it has purchased Timaru bluestone pavers. 

The tender documents read: “The work to be carried out under this contract shall comprise generally of approximately 5,000m2 of stone footpath replacement; 1,200 m of stone kerb replacement; vehicle and pram crossings; service cover frame and lid replacements; catch pit frame and grate relocations, additions and/or replacements; pedestrian amenities, street furniture, bins, stone walls, stone planters; street trees and minor stormwater improvements (piping of awning downpipes to stormwater main or kerb) All stone paving and kerbs are supplied by the principal with no cost to the contractor.”

 

Timaru set to supply pavers

1 March 2007

 

The Auckland City Council is poised to sign a contract with Timaru Bluestone Industries Limited to pave Broadway with South Canterbury basalt, after a visit to the Mainland by the upgrade project manager Edoardo Canal and Newmarket's Cameron Brewer.

"Two-thirds of people told us through the submission process that they preferred New Zealand volcanic basalt over cheaper imported Chinese granite. However we can't source it in large enough numbers from around Auckland despite the fact that the region has 48 volcanos and Newmarket actually sits on volcanic rock. So we've headed down to Timaru to source a rock that reflect's Auckland's volcanic heritage. Believe me the irony hasn't been lost on the Mainlanders," said Cameron Brewer.

If the contract goes through, it will be the biggest project Timaru Bluestone Industries has ever undertaken, according to its managing director Rene Kempf. Approximately 4,000 square metres of bluestone is needed to complete the Broadway upgrade - that's 22,000 individual pavers.

The Timaru Bluestone is sourced from a quarry five kilometres inland from Timaru. Basalt deposits were left after a major eruption from neighbouring Mount Horrible thousands of years ago. The quarrying is viewed as relatively sustainable, leaving little permanent scaring. The bolders are then trucked to Bluestone Industries' Timaru factory where they are slice up into individual pavers.

"The South Canterbury basalt is a quality New Zealand product which will help cement Newmarket as New Zealand's premier retailing district. It's a win for Timaru and a win Newmarket," said Mr Brewer.