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Three community organisations have drafted a wish list for Warkworth as part of their submission on Auckland’s Long-term Plan (2024-2034), which closed for feedback on March 28.
The Warkworth Liaison Group, One Mahurangi and Forest and Bird listed their priorities for the next decade under the headings of tourism, Hill Street, schools, Warkworth Centre Plan, urban growth, public transport, environment, road safety, unsealed roads, emergency management and libraries. In presenting their submission to the Rodney Local Board, they said Warkworth needed to be proactive in promoting the town and district as “a great place to visit”.
“Small businesses need to be encouraged to provide activities and attractions, with packages for tourists in the same way as Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island does,” the submission said. “Restaurants and cafes need to open seven days.”
They suggested that an avenue of trees should line both approaches to the town, and the Hill Street intersection would benefit from perhaps a sculpture at its centre. The submission called for better walking and cycling options, particularly for school students.
“We need to develop better use of the river and develop the Heritage Warkworth Cement works as a heritage and archaeological destination with an information centre.”
Citing the Warkworth Centre Plan, the groups called for the development of a village green, wharf improvements, a raised walkway behind shops and laneways through the shopping precinct, and the re-purposing of the wastewater treatment plant [when decommissioned], at the end of Alnwick Street, for boat launching and parking.
The submission also called for the Falls Road Reserve to be developed as the new centre of the Warkworth growth plan, starting with a lookout at the confluence of the two branches of the Mahurangi River, “adding new parks areas so that it rivals Lucy Moore Park”.
