Town Centre History

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.

 

 

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

 

 

The community asked for:

 

 

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

Jack Pringle Park as a Village Green, 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. concept and integrated the existing retail areas, with new retail and commercial development.

 

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 the needs of the changing population and the local market.

This exercise began with a public meeting in February 2007, and a series of targeted focus groups in June and July 2007. Since this time the Council as assessed the community feedback, considered inputs from the transport, infrastructure, parks and urban design departments, and put together a revised Concept Plan.

This Concept Plan breaks the town centre into seven separate where different activities occur. The Council's ongoing work programme will be to consider how each of these precincts can be improved to better support the businesses on the Peninsula and the attractiveness of the Town Centre itself.

These seven precincts are: Mainstreet Precinct; WLT Precinct, Community Precinct, Northern Shops Precinct, Gunner Drive Commercial Precinct

Te Atatu Peninsula Library & Community Centre Redevelopment

The Council has allocated budget through the 2006-2016 Long Term Council Community Plan to refurbish the Te Atatu Library and Community Centre. Work has progressed in 2008 to consider options for the redevelopment of these facilities. At this stage only a series of conceptual drawings have been developed and will be taken to the community for feedback.

 

The library and community centre are located on the Te Atatu Peninsula "mainstreet" and are adjacent to Jack Pringle park. The Council has recognised that a well designed and multi-purpose facility will be an important part of creating a walkable and vibrant Town Centre.

 

The Town Centre Concept planning project has been undertaken at the same time as options for the redevelopment of the library and community centre have been considered.

 

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.

 

(Source: www.waitakere.govt.nz)