Footpaths
Footpath renewal programme |
Footpath upgrade schedule 2007/2008
Footpaths renewal programme
Background
Following consultation with the public, Auckland City
adopted its footpath policy in July 2003. Measures were put in place to improve
footpaths, including:
- Strict requirements placed on utility operators for high
quality reinstatements that would last the life of the footpath
- Strict requirements complete with reinstatement bonds
placed on developers to ensure high quality reinstatements that would last the
life of the footpath
- Parking enforcement for vehicles illegally parked on the
footpath
- Higher design standards for footpath construction
Before the policy was adopted, consultation showed that 85
per cent of respondents felt good quality footpaths were either 'somewhat' or
'very' important. People felt that visual appearance, cost, safety and
accessibility, and durability were the most important attributes for good
quality footpaths.
Preferred materials for footpath finishes were (in order of
preference) exposed red chip concrete, exposed black chip concrete, broom
finished pigmented concrete and plain concrete. These results, including
consultation with councillors and community board members, helped form the
council's footpath policy.
The footpath
policy was reviewed in 2006, particularly focusing on the type of materials to
be used on footpaths across the city.
Footpath policy review
In August 2006, following consultation with focus groups,
Auckland City reviewed the materials to be used citywide in its footpath policy.
Footpaths in Auckland city will be paved in black chip
concrete, with the exception of those in the CBD, town centres, commercial and
retail centres, business zones 2 and 3, and premier and district parks.
Two council committees - Arts, Culture and Recreation, and
Transport and Urban Linkages - made the decision at a joint committee meeting on
14 August 2006.
Providing a coherent look across the city as part of good
urban design was a key reason behind the decision. Another factor was public
safety, with black chip offering a firm, even and slip-resistant footpath
surface.
The new policy means that private developers and utility
operators will be able to reinstate footpaths more easily after their work.
For more information, contact us.
Footpath materials
Under the council's initial footpath policy, endorsed in
2003, the white concrete used in most parks and residential areas replaced black
chip or red chip concrete.
Black asphalt was used in places where tree roots caused
damage. In commercial and heritage areas, footpaths were made from materials
such as stone, brick pavers, red chip concrete or black chip concrete.
However, in recent years, concerns were raised over the
lack of visual continuity of new red chip concrete footpaths and white concrete
vehicle crossings.
Auckland City used focus groups made up of people with a
range of ages and socio-economic backgrounds to provide feedback on the way the
footpath policy was implemented and to recommend improvements.
Instead of using red chip concrete footpaths in heritage
areas, most people felt that black chip concrete citywide was more practical,
attractive and cost-effective.
This feedback was incorporated into the council's footpath
policy review.
For more information, contact us.
Footpath upgrade
Auckland City owns 2,214 km of footpaths across the city,
many of which are in poor condition. Accelerated deterioration has been caused
by a combination of poor reinstatement by utility operators and building
developers, tree roots and vehicles parking on the footpath.
Many of the city's footpaths were constructed at a time
when design conditions and standards were not as high as they are today.
Citywide footpath condition surveys have revealed that 30 per cent, or 664 km of
footpaths are assessed as poor and very poor.
Auckland City sets aside upgrade funding for footpaths
based on an assessed life through a process of depreciation. Unfortunately, for
the reasons stated above, many footpath lives have been shortened - creating an
upgrade backlog.
