Community Outcome - Well Connected and On the Move
This page describes the Community Outcome: Well-Connected and on the Move.
Porirua is well connected and on the move - "People connect in a safe, accessible and affordable manner."
We can get to where we want because we have good transport routes and a range of public and private transport options available. We know what's going on in Porirua through information from local agencies and available electronically. The community is well connected via the phone and internet infrastructure locally, nationally and internationally.
Council takes a lead role in the planning, construction and maintenance of the local roading network, integrating it with other modes of transport such as walking and cycling. This multimodal approach is reflected in the Porirua City Transportation Strategy. Council works alongside central and regional government on larger projects related to the State Highway network such as the Transmission Gully Project.
Although the responsibility for communications infrastructure and policy lies outside of Council, Council supports the Porirua Digital Strategy which helps more residents stay connected through digital technology, and advocates for the roll-out of superfast broadband.
(1) Porirua Transportation Strategy
The economic and social wellbeing of the Porirua community is reliant on a safe and efficient transport network which provides good access to employment, educational, recreational and retail facilities. Council's twenty year vision for the city's transport system is outlined it the Porirua Transportation Strategy Porirua Transportation Strategy(December 2012). The Porirua Transportation Strategy covers roading, public transportation, cycling and walking and travel demand management initiatives.
(2) Digital Porirua
Digital Porirua contributes to both a prosperous Porirua (Outcome 5) and a well connected Porirua (Outcome 9). The vision of Digital Porirua is to make taking part in digital technology easy and to use technology to connect communities. In 2006 Porirua developed its own Digital Framework based in the three C's 'connection, confidence and content' and in 2009 Digital Porirua was officially launched by the Prime Minister. A Digital Porirua Trust has been set up by Porirua City Council, with support from the Porirua business community.
Examples of Digital Porirua helping connect communities include establishing:
- Our Porirua - a community website which enables community groups and small businesses to build and maintain their own web sites for no cost.
- Community Access Point (CAPs) in a variety of community locations including marae. Each CAP gives people access to ICT facilities.
- Eight School 'NetPods' (a cluster of 6 computers and a printer) Decile 1 schools.
The Digital Porirua project that recognises the important part technology plays in joining our communities, helping people work together and, increasing business productivity. Future plans include development of a Digital Porirua Learning Network, connecting Whitireia, colleges and schools with people in their homes or community access points and public access community TV.
The Digital Porirua Trust has announced that it will be winding up as at the end of March 2012, however the Trusts asets and programmes will be picked up by the Porirua City Community IT Education Trust (E-Learning Porirua).
(3) Transmission Gully Motorway
The Transmission Gully Motorway will make a significant contribution to the economic and social wellbeing of the Porirua community by ensuring a reliant on a safe and efficient transport network in Porirua and in the wider region. Late 2009 the Minister of Transport announced that Transmission Gully (TG) will be the future State Highway 1 route and is expected to be substantially complete within ten years.
The 27 kilometre route for Transmission Gully runs from MacKays Crossing to Linden. There will be interchanges connecting the route to State Highway 58 and to Kenepuru with a connection to Kenepuru Drive. In addition, there will be two link roads from the eastern Porirua suburbs of Whitby and Waitangirua to the route. The Porirua City Council will be the authority responsible for the Whitby and Waitangirua link roads.
Council, NZTA and Transpower have lodged applications for designations and resource consents with the Environment Protecton Agency (EPA). These were referred to a Board of Enquiry by the Minister for the Environment as a proposal of national significance. This means a decision will be made within nine months. The EPA Hearing commenced on 13 February 2012 and ran for five weeks. A draft decision is expected in May 2012.
Many organisations, sectors, groups and people contribute to keeping people in Porirua connected and on the move. Some of the groups that contribute to this outcome are:
Many strategies, policies, programme and agreements contribute to this outcome. Some are local and others have regional or national significance. Examples include:
Click to return to the Community Outcomes home page, or go forward to Community Outcome - Porirua is Multicultural and Creative.