GROWTH AREA PROFILES CITY CENTRES. Henderson. Past. g r o w t h management s t r a t e g y. Henderson 1940

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1 CITY CENTRES Past In 1940 was still a relatively small rural service town, surrounded by established vineyards and orchards, the Borough having a total population of approximately 1,500 people. By the early 1960s construction of the first section of the Northwestern Motorway out to Te Atatu was completed, significantly reducing the time taken to travel between and Auckland s Central Business District. This firmly established and the wider Waitakere City as a dormitory suburb of the rapidly growing region. Government housing schemes and subsidies for home borrowing quickly lead to huge areas of residential subdivision which created a large number of predominantly quarter acre housing plots and a greatly increased local population. By 1968 the Borough Council had established the first stage of Square as part of its push to establish a commercial centre in, and by 1974 the complex was as big as Lynn Mall in the neighbouring Borough. This catalysed further growth within the business area. Today the Square is encompassed by WestCity. At the same time as the main street was developing, an area to the south of became available for industrial business activity following the release of large areas of former railways land (after NZ Rail s plans for a huge shunting yard were abandoned). This provided an industrial employment base in close proximity to the town centre. To enable more people to move into the area large tracts of orchard and vineyard were converted into residential suburbs. However even to this day there remain examples of these pre-residential agricultural activities taking place within the urban area Auckland Regional Council Copyright 2005 g r o w t h Public outing at the Tui Glen Jetty,, circa 1928 (courtesy of Waitakere Library and Information Services). 33

2 Auckland Regional Council Copyright 2005 Auckland Regional Council Copyright s main street in the early 1950s. Courtesy of Waitakere Library and Information Services. Looking towards the Oratia Stream bridge,, in the 1960s. Courtesy of Waitakere Library and Information Services.

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4 Present provides regional level services such as a sub-regional hospital and police district. It has extensive retail facilities; leisure and sports activities; and new tertiary education facilities. The new transport interchange at the railway station and co-located civic administration building will further increase activity within the city centre. Both the Opanuku and Oratia streams flow through and provide significant environmental, recreational and amenity benefits to the area. In 2001, had: Population growth of 19.46% between 1991 and 2001; compared with a citywide average population growth rate of close to 23% A mean age of 38.7 years, 6 years higher than the city average. A mean personal income of $21,139 per annum A higher percentage of European residents than the citywide average of 64%* of those aged 15+ not in the labour force compared with 29% average in Waitakere City 41% of those aged 15+ in full time employment compared with 49% in Waitakere City A mean household size of 2.51 people Age 2001 [] Years 5-9 Years Years Years Years Years Years Years Years Years Years Years Years 65 Years and Over 36 Above: has extensive retail facilities. Left: The council and Unitec share the new Waitakere Central Library (right), which adjoins the Unitec Institute of Technology campus (left).

5 Population and Household Growth Since 1991 [] ,464 1,590 1,758 Highest Qualification (those 15+) 2001 [] No Qualification 24% High School Qualification 37% Not else w here included 17% g r o w t h $50,001 - $70,000 4% Ethnic Group 2001 [] European Maori Pacific Peoples $70, % $30,001 - $50,000 16% Total Personal Income 2001 [] Not Stated 15% As ian Below $10,000 24% $10,001 - $30, Others Higher Degree 2% One Parent w ith Child(ren), 228, 20% Couple w ith Child(ren), 459, Bachelor Degree 5% Family Composition 2001 [] Vocational Qualification 15% Work and Labour Force Status (those 15+) 2001 [] Not in the Labour Force Unidentif iable 4% Employed Fulltime 41% Unemployed 5% Employed Parttime 10% Couple w ithout Children, 456, 37

6 Future occupies a key place in the hierarchy of city centres in Waitakere and is seen by the Waitakere City Council as the city s Central Business District. Over the next 15 years there will continue to be further significant urban development and improvements within and around the town centre. Future plans allow for significant residential intensification particularly along the main streets (e.g. the ) while mixed use developments within the city s core should further reinvigorate the city centre. Existing low density residential areas within walking distance of the centre will be turned into apartments and medium density housing over time, especially in those areas which are close to public transport routes and parks. The existing industrial and retail areas in and around will continue to be redeveloped and in some cases retrofitted when and as appropriate. A High growth rate for would see population nearly triple between 2001 and 2021, with increases of nearly 8,000 persons. Employment will also increase significantly (almost double) within the centre, with approximately 6,500 more jobs by 2021, by way of intensification of existing land use, particularly in and around the central area. The built form in is generally low rise (the recently constructed six-level Waitakere Central Administration building the tallest structure). Apartment, office, retail and mixed use redevelopment will need to be multi-level (4-6 storey, some 10 storey) in the CBD to achieve growth targets. Intensification of employment activities in the industrial area to the south will also be needed, potentially displacing some current activities that are land hungry into less central locations within the city. The council has made significant investment in the infrastructure of the CBD, with the joint Unitec and Waitakere Central Library facilities and car parking building (photo on left) and the Waitakere Central complex (drawing on right) which is not yet complete. 38