GIS and Maps outage
Our two Community Connections projects in Avalon and Taitā will connect residents and schools with the heart of their communities, providing safer and more accessible transport options that are good for us and our environment and improving the experience for people using our footpaths, by foot, bike or scooter.
What we’re doing
We’re improving the accessibility and experience for people who move around Avalon by foot, bike or scooter, connecting residents and tamariki from the wider community with the train station, Beltway Cycleway, and local schools.
In Avalon we're working along the full length of Walters Street and sections of Gordon Street which are both busy school roads, as well as parts of Oxford Terrace and intersections with High Street.
The work includes:
- Widening the existing footpath to create a safe, separated shared walking and cycling path along Walters Street, better connecting Naenae College and Naenae Intermediate with the train station.
- Safety improvements for intersections on both ends of Walters Street and Gordon Street, reducing turning speeds and providing better visibility for drivers.
- Two pedestrian crossings on Walters Street, one pedestrian and cyclist crossing on Oxford Terrace, one pedestrian crossing on Gordon Street, and upgrades to two pedestrian crossings on High Street – all creating safe crossing points for pedestrians and cyclists.
- Extending the parking area by Naenae Station on Oxford Terrace (adding nine parking spaces).
What’s happening now?
Following consultation in 2023 we refined the plans for Avalon, work started on 26 March 2025, and was completed towards the end of 2026.
Have your say: Changes to parking along Walters Street, Avalon
Some parking changes were made along Walters Street as part of our Community Connections project. We acknowledge that the changes have been frustrating, and that traffic and parking continues to be busy at peak times, and the area can feel unsafe for everyone.
Parking on Walters Street
We know that the changes to parking down Walters Street have been frustrating, particularly for kindergarten whānau, and we acknowledge that we’ve removed more than a small amount of parking.
The shared path along Walters Street for pedestrians and cyclists, particularly students travelling to and from school, is a key feature work our work in Avalon - this increases the width of the footpath from 2.2m to 3.0m, and narrows the road width.
Broken yellow lines were installed down Walters Street to ensure traffic flow. The approved drawings for our work in Avalon showed six on-street parking spaces, these have now been reinstated outside Naenae Intermediate (and near Avalon Kindergarten).
Why Avalon?
Avalon is home to several schools and other community facilities, including Naenae College, Naenae Intermediate, Kimi Ora School, Avalon Kindergarten, Avalon Primary School, Te Awa Kairangi Kohanga Reo and the Holy Trinity Avalon Church.
Currently, Walters and Gordon Streets do not have any safe walking cycling infrastructure despite the presence of schools, and upgrading these streets will better connect these places with the nearby train station and beltway cycleway.
What we heard
In 2023, we consulted with the community on the proposed plans. Overall, there was support for improvements that would enhance safety for tamariki moving through the area. Based on this feedback, we have revised the designs where possible to reflect community input.
We have also continued working closely with local schools and kindergartens to address their specific concerns and ensure minimal disruption for students.
Key changes in the revised design for Avalon following public consultation:
- Additional car parks added on Oxford Terrace.
- Speed humps on Gordon Street removed.
- Intersection tightening at the Walters Street and Oxford Terrace intersection removed.
- Works are being phased to reduce impacts on Avalon Kindergarten and tamariki coming to and from Kimi Ora School.
We also heard concerns about existing traffic congestion, particularly during school drop-off and pick-up times, and worries that the proposed changes might make this worse. While we cannot solve congestion overnight, the improvements in Avalon aim to make walking and cycling safer for tamariki, supporting whānau to consider different travel options which could result in fewer cars on the road outside schools.
There was also concern around parking in the area. While there is a small reduction in parking proposed along Walters Street, we are increasing the number of parking spaces on Oxford Terrace. We are also exploring options for designated drop-off points, allowing parents to safely drop off or pick up their tamariki outside the most congested areas.
Got questions?
You can get in contact us by emailing communityconnections@huttcity.govt.nz.