A covered Victoria Bridge with markets, an inter-city bus depot, a sculpture walkway, a resited arts museum and an enhanced visitor information centre are among plans for development at the Town Basin to be voted on by 15 December 2010.
Updated:
25/03/2011 4:25 p.m.
If approved by councillors the work will start in February and be completed in time for the World Cup later in the year.
"This is one of the biggest developments at the Town Basin for years and brings together so many things that have been lobbied for by the public over that time," says Whangarei Mayor Morris Cutforth. “Some of these have been under discussion since the first development at the Basin back in 1996."
"The Rugby World Cup and the now empty Hubands' building have opened a window of opportunity and I am tremendously excited that we’ve finally got something real that we can actually start doing right now."
Aside from developments in the former Hubands’ building the overall plan includes making a start on the long planned riverside walkway and cycle track loop from the Town Basin to Pohe Island which will eventually cross the planned bridge.
Further out a signposted route will be developed from the existing I Site on the entrance to Whangarei at Tarewa Park leading out of town visitors to the Town Basin.
That will include new tree and garden plantings along the route, flags at crucial intersections and large direction signs.
That particular project, widely discussed and supported at the time, actually went out to a Request for Proposal several years ago, but was never progressed.
"Taken together these projects make up one of the most exciting developments for ages and one my Deputy Phil Halse has been working exceptionally hard on," says Mayor Cutforth.
"We have a budget of $4m and I believe we’ve identified where that can come from without affecting infrastructure works such as those we’re doing with wastewater. This should be a win-win for everybody and I’m hoping my councillors will see it that way too. We need a decision this month if we’re to complete it in time for the World Cup."
Mayor Cutforth says the developments are nothing like the World Cup Party centrals being planned in Auckland; there are no liquor outlets or music facilities being considered.
"If people want a party area we will centre it be around existing bars in our city area," says Mayor Cutforth. "We won’t be creating more at the Town Basin.
"There is a feeling among some businesses and the public generally that Council has been talking about the Town Basin long enough. Those people actually want to see something for the rates and fees they’re paying and I’m hoping these works which Phil, the Councillors and Council staff have been working so hard on, will be it."
Mayor Cutforth says he is hoping the Council works will encourage the business community to progress the partnership developments they have also been talking about in the area.
"They have been talking about joining Council in developing that area and beyond so I’m hoping this will be the start of some really major developments in the city."