Current Programmes
Melville, in the south of the city, was identified as a high-risk community and an area of strategic significance from a transport perspective. Consultation with residents quickly resulted in a project being created. Further work continues to grow from the involvement of the NAPs coordinator in the community - a positive sign that other stakeholders value the role that Council can play in determining outcomes.
Melville Alleyways Project:
Community feedback highlighted issues surrounding four alleyways that connect residential roads to larger collector routes in the neighbourhood. The alleyways pass between existing properties half way along a road, or at the end of a cul-de-sac and offer a shorter journey for those who access local amenities without the use of a car. They are all similar in length and width, but differ in condition. The four alleyway locations are;
- Bader Street to Slim Street
- Slim Street to Montgomery Crescent
- Pine Avenue to Rawlings Street
- Perry Place to Bader Street.
The general consensus of the feedback was that "if they can be made safe, then keep them", "doing something is better than doing nothing". Hamilton City Council met in June 2008 and discussed a report on the project so far. The result of their meeting was a show of support for the continuation of the project and the allocation of funding to trial improvements to surfacing, fencing and lighting in one of the alleyways.
Further assessment of each alleyway was undertaken with the assistance of a landscape architect. Regular feedback was communicated to residents and a dedicated information board was arranged at the local community house, at the heart of the alleway convergence zone. All residents in the community can find out how the project is progressing via the neighbourhood support group newsletters and meetings, or the community house.
We continue to work most closely with the residents and property owners living directly beside the alleyways and recently consulted with them on the various design options possible for the upgrade. Following this meeting, we were able to select the alleyway between Bader Street and Slim Street for the trialled improvements. Final designs for the changes to this alleyway are yet to be announced and will reflect the collaboration of residents and Council in jointly deciding how to tackle this issue. | 
