Roskill Community Voice

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Media statement: Better Footpath Blitz finds worrying trends in Roskill

Media statement, for immediate release

“Footpath damage in the Puketāpapa area is widespread and creating real issues for those walking and wheeling around the greater Mt Roskill area,” says Julie Fairey, Roskill Community Voice candidate for the Puketapapa Local Board.

174 individual responses were logged online by the community through the Better Footpath Blitz run recently by Roskill Community Voice. Most involved cracked or broken footpaths, with many including trip hazards. There were also areas that flooded regularly becoming impassable, drain pipes running under the footpath that were broken or exposed, and areas that needed ramps or pram crossings.  All Puketāpapa suburbs had at least one issue logged.

Worrying trends in footpath damage

Trends noted from the issues logged included:

  • Footpaths, and pipes underneath them, broken by cars and heavier vehicles parked on footpaths.
  • Poorly done reinstatements to footpaths ripped up for utility works (eg installing fibre), especially laying asphalt when previously the footpath was concrete
  • Footpaths that had been patched several times over, probably needing replacement
  • Construction sites with driveways that had been pulled out, resulting in no footpath outside the property, or an insufficient footpath such as gravel, usually with trip hazards at either end
  • Tree roots lifting concrete sections of footpath resulting in trip hazards over time
  • Old staple-like bollards in walkways between streets which are too difficult for those with a stroller, bicycle, or wheelchair to get past
  • Plants growing in cracks, which exacerbate damage and slipperiness
  • A lack of response from Auckland Transport when people had raised a problem in the past

Footpath problems leading to falls, lack of access

Some troubling stories came through the Blitz’ online tool, including the following quotes from locals:

  • “…Many accidents have occurred from this slippery mouldy path. Needs a good clean as falling off bikes have caused broken hips etc”
  • “My wife tripped on this one, yesterday. Bruising, lacerations requiring stitches to face and hands.”
  • “There are problems on both sides of this street. Uneven paths, broken kerbs, trees overhanging the footpath very low that can spike your hair as you walk under them… Lumps of concrete that have been spilt on the path and never scraped off. It’s a route for our walking school bus and lots of kids and parents…”
  • “One corner has big hole in the kerb, you could break your leg. Logged this a year ago but no action…”
  • “There is a pipe or something broken and it leaks constantly onto the footpath. Because it has been happening for so long, moss and algae is growing on the footpath. It makes it VERY dangerous as it is so slippery. My daughter has slipped right over a few times.”

“To encourage people to move around our community on footpaths we need to ensure it is safe to do so, regardless of age and mobility”, says Fairey.

Next steps

“We’ve logged all 150+ of these issues with Auckland Transport and have asked them to assess each one and let us know their next steps. Some have been passed on to Auckland Council as they involved stormwater or parks. We’ll be monitoring progress and reporting back to the community through our Facebook page www.facebook.com/roskillcv,” says Fairey.

“Through many years of advocating for footpath improvements, Auckland Transport have told us that local footpaths are generally in good condition. But we know from trying to get individual problems fixed that sometimes it takes a lot of follow-up to even get dangerous trip hazards addressed. We’re hopeful by taking this collective approach, and monitoring progress, we’ll be able to see an increase in footpath maintenance not just for the issues logged but more generally,” says Fairey.

The map attached currently marks all the logged issues as red and we will update this map, hoping to get them all to green, over time.

 

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Better Footpath Blitz finds worrying trends

Media statement, for immediate release

“Footpath damage in the Puketāpapa area is widespread and creating real issues for those walking and wheeling around the greater Mt Roskill area,” says Julie Fairey, Roskill Community Voice candidate for the Puketapapa Local Board.

174 individual responses were logged online by the community through the Better Footpath Blitz run recently by Roskill Community Voice. Most involved cracked or broken footpaths, with many including trip hazards. There were also areas that flooded regularly becoming impassable, drain pipes running under the footpath that were broken or exposed, and areas that needed ramps or pram crossings.  All Puketāpapa suburbs had at least one issue logged.

Worrying trends in footpath damage

Trends noted from the issues logged included:

  • Footpaths, and pipes underneath them, broken by cars and heavier vehicles parked on footpaths.
  • Poorly done reinstatements to footpaths ripped up for utility works (eg installing fibre), especially laying asphalt when previously the footpath was concrete
  • Footpaths that had been patched several times over, probably needing replacement
  • Construction sites with driveways that had been pulled out, resulting in no footpath outside the property, or an insufficient footpath such as gravel, usually with trip hazards at either end
  • Tree roots lifting concrete sections of footpath resulting in trip hazards over time
  • Old staple-like bollards in walkways between streets which are too difficult for those with a stroller, bicycle, or wheelchair to get past
  • Plants growing in cracks, which exacerbate damage and slipperiness
  • A lack of response from Auckland Transport when people had raised a problem in the past

Footpath problems leading to falls, lack of access

Some troubling stories came through the Blitz’ online tool, including the following quotes from locals:

  • “…Many accidents have occurred from this slippery mouldy path. Needs a good clean as falling off bikes have caused broken hips etc”
  • “My wife tripped on this one, yesterday. Bruising, lacerations requiring stitches to face and hands.”
  • “There are problems on both sides of this street. Uneven paths, broken kerbs, trees overhanging the footpath very low that can spike your hair as you walk under them… Lumps of concrete that have been spilt on the path and never scraped off. It’s a route for our walking school bus and lots of kids and parents…”
  • “One corner has big hole in the kerb, you could break your leg. Logged this a year ago but no action…”
  • “There is a pipe or something broken and it leaks constantly onto the footpath. Because it has been happening for so long, moss and algae is growing on the footpath. It makes it VERY dangerous as it is so slippery. My daughter has slipped right over a few times.”

“To encourage people to move around our community on footpaths we need to ensure it is safe to do so, regardless of age and mobility”, says Fairey.

Next steps

“We’ve logged all 150+ of these issues with Auckland Transport and have asked them to assess each one and let us know their next steps. Some have been passed on to Auckland Council as they involved stormwater or parks. We’ll be monitoring progress and reporting back to the community through our Facebook page www.facebook.com/roskillcv,” says Fairey.

“Through many years of advocating for footpath improvements, Auckland Transport have told us that local footpaths are generally in good condition. But we know from trying to get individual problems fixed that sometimes it takes a lot of follow-up to even get dangerous trip hazards addressed. We’re hopeful by taking this collective approach, and monitoring progress, we’ll be able to see an increase in footpath maintenance not just for the issues logged but more generally,” says Fairey.

The map attached currently marks all the logged issues as red and we will update this map, hoping to get them all to green, over time.

 

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Media Release: Seeking Big Ideas for Mt Roskill Town Centre

For immediate release

“It is time for action to turn the Mt Roskill Town Centre from a scruffy strip to an inviting hub – a place that is safe and inviting, supports our local businesses, and reflects the vibrancy and diversity of our people,” says Bobby Shen, architectural designer and Roskill Community Voice candidate for the Puketāpapa Local Board.

“It’s one of the top issues constituents raise with me,” says Michael Wood, Member of Parliament for Mt Roskill. “There’s a real frustration that our town centre is so much less than what it could be, and so I’m working with Roskill Community Voice to host a public meeting on the matter, Sunday 28th July, 3.30pm at Winstone Park Tennis Club.”

“Mt Roskill Town Centre has faced many years of decline owing to the pulling power of the malls, the loss of major businesses that generate foot-traffic, uncertainty over transport planning, and a lack of private and public investment. The forthcoming footpath and streetscape improvements due to happen later this year will help the town centre, but a more comprehensive and planned approach is necessary to really revitalise it and give it a future as a people-place in our community,” says Harry Doig, current Chair of the Puketāpapa Local Board.

Roskill Community Voice is seeking “Big Ideas for Mt Roskill Town Centre” through a local postcard campaign, where people can drop their ideas into Copies Plus in the main shops, Foxie Hair at 887 Dominion Rd, or give their thoughts online at www.roskillcv.org.nz/bigideas.

“We need some community ideas and community action to turn our town centre around, and make it a real heart for our people. I’m looking forward to hearing what locals think and working together to make a real difference,” says Bobby Shen.

Contacts:
Bobby Shen – ph 0211725235
Email bobbyshenpuketapapa@gmail.com

Harry Doig – ph 0272412209
Email Harry.doig@gmail.com

Michael Wood MP – ph 0226506360

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Better footpaths blitz

Have you come across broken or damaged footpaths in your neighbourhood?  Well we’ve created handy form for you to report these issues so that we can log them into the system to be fixed up.

Create your own user feedback survey

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Transport

Updated for 2019

We champion better public transport so that local people have real choices for travelling around our city and within our community. We support investing in safe walk and cycle routes, and in making existing roads safer for all users.

What we’ve done:

  • Supported better public transport including double deckers on 25 and 27 routes, improved cross-town routes like the frequent 66 and 68, and won the 191 bus route to connect Lynfield to Blockhouse Bay
  • Reviewed the Puketāpapa Greenways Network and continued to progress key routes so that people can walk and cycle around more of our community safely and pleasantly
  • Collaborated to win commitment from Auckland Transport, Auckland Council and central government to light rail on Dominion Road
  • Run the Better Footpath Blitz to highlight the poor state of local footpaths, get them fixed, and show Auckland Transport they need to get better at responding to footpath problems.
  • Improved pedestrian safety around schools, including funding three new safer crossing points on Hillsborough Road.
  • Held the Great Puketāpapa Mt Roskill Bus Survey 2018, to gather local feedback on the New Bus Network, and suggest improvements to AT, many of which are being picked up on.
  • Delivered the shared path cycleway route, and a separated bike lane, on Sandringham Rd Extn to connect up the SH20 regional route to Wesley and other east-west paths through local parks
  • Pushed to include a bike pump track in Underwood Park as part of Te Auaunga Project, for learners and for fun, and for one to be added to proposed future improvements of Margaret Griffen Park.

What’s next?

  • Push for a regional Footpath Strategy, to address all the competing uses of our footpaths including walking, e-scootering, wheelchair and mobility scooter users, wheelie bins and more, and gather local stories and data to support this.
  • Investigate local community-led accessibility audits for streets and footpaths to help people more easily access key council facilities and public transport interchanges.
  • Ensure the light rail plan for Dominion Road serves our community well and includes local views in the design process. (See more about this in our vision to Revive Roskill Town Centre)
  • Continue to support local cycling groups like Bike Kitchen and Global Hope Missions, in particular to work with sports clubs to provide alternative ways to get to training and competition.
  • Deliver Greenway paths through Freeland Reserve to May Road School and connecting Roskill Campus eastwards to Monte Cecilia Park.
  • Work with Auckland Transport, local schools and neighbouring local boards to develop signage across the Greenway network so people can more easily find their way around when off-road.