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Ferry Road Master Plan

Woolston vision

An artist's concept of Woolston looking north along Heathcote Street from the river.

Ferry Road is an important arterial that connects the city to the sea and performs several key transportation functions for the whole city. It links the city’s seaside suburbs and port with the Central City and provides services to a number of communities along its route.

Its recovery is closely connected to the long-term prosperity of the city. Ferry Road includes several commercial centres along its route, namely Ferrymead, Woolston Village, Phillipstown and Charleston.

Date Actions
August 2011
Project set up 		 Earthquake impacts assessed, technical information gathered and key stakeholders identified.
October 2011
Research, information gathering 		 Focus group sessions with key stakeholders and residents held. Community’s values, needs, aspirations and priorities identified.
November 2011
Design & feasibility testing		 Technical expert workshops held to combine and reconcile community’s values, needs, aspirations and priorities.
December 2011-November 2012
Prepare draft master plan 		 Master plan drafted. Endorsed by Community Board. Approved by Council for public notification.
January-February 2013
Consultation 		 Public consultation held and submissions received.
May-June 2013
Follow up investigations, revisions 		 Submissions analysed. Further investigations as needed and focus group sessions and community workshops held. Amendments to draft master plan.
May 2014
Adoption		 Ferry Road Master Plan adopted by Council.
June 2014 onwards
Implementation 		 Actions implemented by community and Council (capital projects delivered as funding made available).

The Ferry Road Master Plan [PDF, 4.7 MB] contains a strategic vision for Ferry Road to recover from earthquake impacts, to become a safe and pleasant movement corridor connecting city and sea, linking resilient and vibrant commercial centres.

This vision is supported by 26 goals, which are to be delivered through 24 detailed implementation actions. These encourage Council, private sector, community and government-led decision-making to align and move forward together in a logical sequence.

The vision, goals and actions are described in detail in sections 5, 6 and 7 of the Ferry Road Master Plan [PDF, 4.7 MB]. 

Woolston Action Area

Action areas along the corridor.

Key successes to date include:

  • Recovery-supportive District Plan amendments which have been made operative. These include:
    • Reduced on-site car parking requirements for activities in neighbourhood centres and which meet certain qualifications (e.g. access to public transport and major cycle routes)
    • Updated minimum floor levels in flood management areas
    • Controls on impervious surfacing in the setbacks from rivers.
  • Completion of WL7 Woolston Community Library and Council carpark improvements.
  • The safety/crossing improvements at Ferry Road/Smith Street, to improve access to Te Waka Unua School and Woolston Park, were completed in mid-2019.
  • A number of private sector developments have also been completed along the corridor, enabling community access to goods and services once again.

To view the corresponding master plan actions, go to page 35 in the Ferry Road Master Plan [PDF, 4.7 MB].

Artist’s impression of street upgrade, looking towards the new library

Artist’s impression of street upgrade, looking towards the new Woolston Community Library

  • Work on the Ferry Road upgrade through Woolston Village (project reference WL1)  is continuing. Key milestones achieved are: Completion of the section between St Johns Street and St Annes School, Commissioning of Gateway artworks, Installation of paving artworks, and a new pedestrian crossing.

  • A refined project scope has been developed for Heathcote Street Pocket Park and Pedestrian Bridge (project reference WL6) – this will now focus on Connal reserve and landscape improvements.

  • The Major Cycleway Rapanui Shagrock Section 3 / Tidal View Scheme (project reference FM3 and FM4) is progressing following a successful ‘Shovel Ready’ funding bid

To view the corresponding master plan actions, go to page 35 in the Ferry Road Master Plan [PDF, 4.7 MB].