Civic Crescent Upgrade

Project background

The streetscape of Civic Crescent has been extensively rebuilt to make it a key public space for people to enjoy in the heart of Albany. 

The $5m upgrade, which runs alongside the north side of Westfield Mall, aims to provide better traffic flow, more transport options for people travelling to and from the mall and a more attractive street environment thanks to extensive landscaping.

At the same time as the street upgrade, the council has landscaped the neighbouring Albany Lakes Civic Park.  The park, which was officially opened on 5 November 2009, provides a stunning focal point for people gazing out from the plaza cafes to the far side of the Albany Basin.  See Parks, Walks and Play section.

Project features

• Improved bus facilities including a new bus station on Civic Crescent with four new bus shelters, passenger information, and seating looking out over the park
• Bus priority lanes leading to and from the new bus station
• A low speed environment for traffic accessing the park and shopping centre
• Improved cycle and walking facilities with a new pedestrian space linking the mall and the Albany Lakes Civic Park
• A share with care (pedestrian and cycle) path along the park’s edge. See Share with Care Paths section.
• Landscaping including the planting of more than 100 oriental plane trees and 12 cherry trees.  Once these trees mature there will be an avenue of green from one end of the crescent to the other
• The attractive gardens along Civic Crescent and the lakes themselves, have been specially designed to gather and naturally treat stormwater run-off before it goes into our streams and harbours

An innovative stormwater treatment system

The trees, which edge the new Albany Lakes Civic Park, form part of an innovative stormwater treatment system. Rain falling on the road is gathered into rain gardens or crosses grassed areas to tree pits.  In the tree pits (holes the trees are planted in, which is filled with a special soil mix) the rainwater is filtered before the surplus is piped to the lakes.  This ensures the improved quality of the lake’s water.

To find out more about stormwater treatment systems, including information about tree pits and rain gardens visit our stormwater bio-retention page.

Bus services

Routes travelling via Civic Crescent from 1 November 2009.

For more details on bus routes and timetables, please visit www.maxx.co.nz or call (09) 366 6400.