Viewpoint – A vision for Warkworth’s future

For better or for worse, Auckland is growing at breakneck speed, and Auckland Council has long since decided, and the Unitary Plan confirms it, that Warkworth is going to be five times its current size in short order. Whether the new look complements the old, and if it will be a town to be proud of, can largely be determined by the community. But this will happen only if the people and the Rodney Local Board take the lead and tell Council what the most important characteristics of this new town must be.

Warkworth needs to play to its strengths. The most obvious and well-acknowledged feature of Warkworth is the Mahurangi River and its backdrop of indigenous forest. Binding the old with the new, it could feature as the backbone, linking people with greenways, eateries and open leisure spaces. While it might seem counter intuitive, wider streets are probably called for. This would enable the new Warkworth to be walkable and cycleable, and literally greener, because, by keeping roads narrow, there is space for mature trees, resting benches, cycleways and parking alcoves. And narrower roadways result in slower and safer vehicle speeds.

If Warkworth is developed on the same tired old car-centric model, there will never be enough parking, particularly in the existing town centre. This is where, in addition to paths and cycleways, what Auckland Transport terms fourth-tier targeted services could come in.

Minibuses, run by a community trust and manned by volunteers, would open up a wealth of healthy alternatives to using a car. On a fine day, a person might choose to walk into town. Then, if for whatever reason – too many books, groceries or parcels to carry, or the threat of an afternoon shower of rain – walking home is unattractive, use the community minibus, and natter to neighbours on the way home.

For now, these may be nothing more than ideas, but this is a conversation that we must have. If the community fails to tell Council what’s important we will have a structure plan foisted upon us which may or may not do justice to Warkworth, and all those who love it.