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A puriri tree was planted and a ribbon cut to officially open the $3.7 million Warkworth Community Transport Hub on June 30.
The hub, on State Highway 1 near the Warkworth Showgrounds, was funded by the Rodney Targeted Transport Rate.
It comprises 137 car parks, including 15 short term and four accessible parking spaces, as well as a bus layover, two bus stops, footpaths, a signalised pedestrian crossing across State Highway 1, two toilet blocks, bike parking, lighting and CCTV security.
By the time the new motorway and link road open next year, all local bus services will be using it as a terminus.
But Board member Beth Houlbrooke said the hub was much more than “just a carpark”. It would not only relieve parking and traffic issues in Warkworth during the week, it would service the area’s growing recreational activities such as markets and bike trails on weekends.
Houlbrooke paid tribute to former Rodney District Councillor June Turner who had been instrumental in saving the former Atlas site from sale.
“The site is now secure as a community asset thanks to the efforts of June and the Board,” Houbrooke said.
The site was blessed by Ngati Manuhiri cultural advisor Kaumātua Carmen Hetaraka.
Board chair Phelan Pirrie said the delivery of the transport hub had only happened because of the targeted rate, which had also delivered kilometres of footpaths.
He said the cooperation and support of Council’s Governing Body and Auckland Transport had been crucial.
