August 1999 saw the start of the Avondale Town Centre Refurbishment Project. This project was the result of a strategic partnership between the ABA, the Avondale Community Board and building owners. The Association committed nearly $50,000, Avondale Community Board granted $45,000 from their SLIPS fund and many contributions have been received from supportive building owners. The Project is currently over half way to completion with generic signs, painting of heritage buildings, painting under-verandas and increased security lighting making a major impact on the look of the town. In July of 2000, the Avondale Community Board granted a further $45,000 towards completion of the Refurbishment Project, as a sign of faith in the ABA's revitalisation programme. We are sincerely thankful to the Board for their ongoing commitment to Avondale. Another extraordinary, possibly unique, sign of faith is the WestpacTrust bank's decision to forego its corporate fascia for a generic sign. The next areas for upgrade are the block from the old PO to the Green Jade, then from Money Shop to JJ's. - November 2000

Before...

After...

Avondale town centre will soon be starting a major streetscape redevelopment though our Mainstreet programme.

Stage 1 of the Mainstreet Project, will be the development of a new town square in the centre of Avondale. This will include new footpaths, lighting, seating, new toilets, children's playground and a public gathering area with an open Polynesian-style band rotunda.

Existing

Proposed

This $330,000 project is the first of four stages of upgrade by Auckland City, scheduled over the next four financial years.

Included in Stage 1 is the Avondale Spider project. Detailed engineering drawings have been produced for the famous icon to be mounted where the old toilet block is now. Substantial funding for this project has been granted by the Portage Licensing Trust, and corporate funding is being sought as well.

Spider needs web site

AVONDALE'S eight legged icon may soon be back. The 6m fibreglass spider that used to sit atop the Mobil station, and before that the secondhand shop, may soon spin its stainless steel web on Avondale's roundabout. The Avondale spider became famous internationally after the real-life version starred in the horror movie, Arachnophobia.

The spider's return is part of an Avondale Business Association millennium project. Its ultimate site would be landscaped and lighted at night. Other locations suggested include a local reserve and the corner of Ash St and Great North Rd. Councillor Phil Raffills says a spider would be a great attraction for Avondale, but it needs to be in a prominent position where it can benefit local businesses. "I think it's a great idea, but I think the place for it is at the roundabout," says Mr Raffills.

However, board member Evana Belich is concerned about local residents' reactions to having a spider in the middle of their town. "What about the arachnophobes in the area?. People don't want to see a giant spider when they do their shopping on a Saturday morning." Ms Belich says there are many other things that would make a lovely symbol of Avondale, such as the local mangroves and birdlife.

Avondale Business Association chairman Duncan McDonald says the area is known for its spiders as a result of the Arachnophobia movie, and the community can benefit from that. "It's all very well being known as the town where the spiders are, but you need to have them displayed," says Mr McDonald. "Tourists love seeing things like that and it would be the only icon in west Auckland."

The spider project will cost more than $40,000 and the business association has applied to the Portage Licensing Trust for the bulk of the funding. Mr McDonald says he welcomes suggestions where to site the spider.

Visitors get choice of giant web site or appealing onion

Auckland has never been a place for the squeamish. But it's just about to get creepier. In a BIG way. In Avondale, the local business association wants to resurrect a 6m spider, which used to sit atop a petrol station, and place it in the middle of the main roundabout as a visitor attraction.

And on the Bombay Hills, there are plans to put a giant onion — 18m high and 13m round — on top of the Visitors' Information Centre at the Bombay Motorway Service Centre. The onion, say supporters, will attract tourists and promote Franidin District's prime produce. The $500,000 landmark will include a museum and a viewing platform.

Avondale Business Association chairman Duncan McDonald had the idea to dust off from storage the fibreglass spider replica. He wants the arachnid mounted on a pole on the town's main roundaboutand lit up at night as a marketing tool to attract shoppers back to a retail area he says has been dying. The idea has been such a hit that the association has adopted it as a millennium project. Approval is still needed from residents, but Mr McDonald says feedback has been mostly good.

There is a longer-term hope that a "kiwi house" for spiders will be established. And then there is the idea for a "spider-pop — a lollipop in the shape of a spider that you can only get in Avondale."

The town was catapulted to fame when Hollywood bought about 350 of the spiders to star in Steven Spielberg's horror movie, Arachnophobia.

The Avondale Spider, love it or hate it. We want to know what you think!

The spider is a unique icon of the area, even gaining worldwide recognition as the star of the Spielberg film 'Arachnophobia'. One that could be equal in national recognition as the L&P 'can' at Paeroa, the 'carrot' at Ohakune, and the 'trout' at Taupo.

Last year, the giant fibreglass and steel spider atop Mobil Avondale was removed due to a change in policy by Mobil Australia. The Avondale Business Association paid for the removal of the spider and for refurbishment and storage until a suitable site is located.

The Association is seeking resource consent to have the spider mounted on a giant stainless steel 'web', either in the Avondale roundabout, or at the reserve, comer of Ash St and Great North Road. We have approached the Avondale Community Board and the Portage Licensing Trust for funds to complete this ambitious project.

Local arts group 'Wai Kauri' are producing artists' impressions of what the finished icon will look like in its new home. This is expected to be on public display early April. Phone the Avondale Spider 'web site', 820-0648 and tell us: Love it? Hate it? Should it go in the roundabout, the reserve, or back to Aussie?

Around New Zealand

AUCKLAND has never been a place for the squeamish. But it's about to get creepier, in a big way. In Avondale, the local business association wants to resurrect a 6m spider, which used to sit on a petrol station, and put it in the middle of the main roundabout to attract visitors.....

Avondale Business Association chairman Duncan MacDonald hatched the idea of dusting off the fibreglass spider replica, now in storage. He envisages the arachnid mounted on a pole on the town's main roundabout, lit up at night as a marketing tool to attract shoppers back to a retail area that has been dying.

The idea has been such a hit that the association has adopted it as a millennium project. Residents' approval is still needed but Mr MacDonald says feedback has been mostly good.