Tumble weed city Memo to: Whangarei CBD Building Owners, Businesses and retailers
The Northland Chamber of Commerce is a business association representing the interests of all its members throughout Northland.
It’s rare that we pick out a small location or group of people to directly talk to however some aspects concerning the Whangarei CBD have become concerning.
The CBD Shopping area is a great place to spend a Saturday Morning. It’s lively, busy and there is a real good ‘feel ‘to the city. For a small provincial town it is surprising the amount of shops we have available which you might expect to see in a much larger city.
You can wander through the Strand where there are 40 odd interesting shops out into the mall which usually has something interesting going on. If you are feeling lively you can take a wander down to the town basin where there are some great creative retailers and good coffee.
The Northland Chamber of Commerce has been talking to Whangarei CBD Businesses lately. Almost all businesses we have spoken to have opinions on some aspects of town planning or parking or decisions made by a local body authority that they can point out have negatively affected their business.
One disturbing aspect that comes through is the almost robotic tendency to blame local Government for our woes. Yes – the city possibly wasn’t well planned from the start. However my experience with local Government especially the politicians are that they are almost falling over themselves to work with local business in the CBD area to ensure that the CBD area remains prime real estate.
So the choice is really ours in going forward what we want the CBD to look like. Here are a couple of possible scenarios.
One - The CBD can either be the lively thriving commercial centre of the Northland Region. Premises are fully occupied with demand for space more than supply. Great planned developments ensuring flow of traffic, Parking, preservation of features and a place where business is carried out effortlessly. Natural Linkages in with Parks, Marinas and retail to co-hesively work make theCBD a destination.
or Two - A Dying / dead centre. No tenants interested in locating there. Unkempt streets, boarded up shop fronts, tumbleweed scampering down Cameron street. Mall vandalized and a good area to avoid.
The future of the Whangarei CBD holds some challenges for landowners and residents. We have competition from retail precincts such as Okara Park, Tarewo and the emerging centre around Gumdiggers Place. Ruakaka developments may see a new ‘centre, emerge which will give planners green fields opportunities.
The Challenge is to recognise that its not up to ‘someone’ else to preserve the viability of the CBD area. If you have a financial stake in the whangarei CBD there are some things you can do to protect your investment
1. Join your local Chamber of Commerce
2. Take part in the retail / CBD Committee
3. Debate and provide constructive feedback on the CBD 20/20 Plan
4. Using the Chamber as a facilitator – agree on some minimum opening hours
5. Provide constructive suggestion on immediate Parking, Traffic Flow and congestion issues.
If we stick together as a group with a financial stake in the CBD with the lobbying and advocacy service provided by your Chamber of Commerce you can have a positive impact in the CBD and ensure that it’s an area that will continue to be a great place to do business.
The Northland Chamber of Commerce is the networking, education, advocacy and marketing group for Northland business, and is part of a nationwide network of 30 and a world-wide movement of 21,000 chambers. Subscription to the free fortnightly chamber e-news can be arranged on info@northchamber.co.nz. Enquiries to 09-4384771 or www.northchamber.co.nz, www.kaiparachamber.co.nz and www.farnorthchamber.co.nz
You can have a say on this by going to the Northland Chamber of Commerce Feedback website on www.northchamber.blogspot.com
It’s rare that we pick out a small location or group of people to directly talk to however some aspects concerning the Whangarei CBD have become concerning.
The CBD Shopping area is a great place to spend a Saturday Morning. It’s lively, busy and there is a real good ‘feel ‘to the city. For a small provincial town it is surprising the amount of shops we have available which you might expect to see in a much larger city.
You can wander through the Strand where there are 40 odd interesting shops out into the mall which usually has something interesting going on. If you are feeling lively you can take a wander down to the town basin where there are some great creative retailers and good coffee.
The Northland Chamber of Commerce has been talking to Whangarei CBD Businesses lately. Almost all businesses we have spoken to have opinions on some aspects of town planning or parking or decisions made by a local body authority that they can point out have negatively affected their business.
One disturbing aspect that comes through is the almost robotic tendency to blame local Government for our woes. Yes – the city possibly wasn’t well planned from the start. However my experience with local Government especially the politicians are that they are almost falling over themselves to work with local business in the CBD area to ensure that the CBD area remains prime real estate.
So the choice is really ours in going forward what we want the CBD to look like. Here are a couple of possible scenarios.
One - The CBD can either be the lively thriving commercial centre of the Northland Region. Premises are fully occupied with demand for space more than supply. Great planned developments ensuring flow of traffic, Parking, preservation of features and a place where business is carried out effortlessly. Natural Linkages in with Parks, Marinas and retail to co-hesively work make theCBD a destination.
or Two - A Dying / dead centre. No tenants interested in locating there. Unkempt streets, boarded up shop fronts, tumbleweed scampering down Cameron street. Mall vandalized and a good area to avoid.
The future of the Whangarei CBD holds some challenges for landowners and residents. We have competition from retail precincts such as Okara Park, Tarewo and the emerging centre around Gumdiggers Place. Ruakaka developments may see a new ‘centre, emerge which will give planners green fields opportunities.
The Challenge is to recognise that its not up to ‘someone’ else to preserve the viability of the CBD area. If you have a financial stake in the whangarei CBD there are some things you can do to protect your investment
1. Join your local Chamber of Commerce
2. Take part in the retail / CBD Committee
3. Debate and provide constructive feedback on the CBD 20/20 Plan
4. Using the Chamber as a facilitator – agree on some minimum opening hours
5. Provide constructive suggestion on immediate Parking, Traffic Flow and congestion issues.
If we stick together as a group with a financial stake in the CBD with the lobbying and advocacy service provided by your Chamber of Commerce you can have a positive impact in the CBD and ensure that it’s an area that will continue to be a great place to do business.
The Northland Chamber of Commerce is the networking, education, advocacy and marketing group for Northland business, and is part of a nationwide network of 30 and a world-wide movement of 21,000 chambers. Subscription to the free fortnightly chamber e-news can be arranged on info@northchamber.co.nz. Enquiries to 09-4384771 or www.northchamber.co.nz, www.kaiparachamber.co.nz and www.farnorthchamber.co.nz
You can have a say on this by going to the Northland Chamber of Commerce Feedback website on www.northchamber.blogspot.com
Join the chamber - click here, no card required!
Jeff Smith
Northland Chamber of Commerce
Ph. 09 438 4771
Fax 09 438 4770
DDI 09 4384758
mob 027 444 1010
MSN IM northchamber
Email: ceo@northchamber.co.nz
Website : www.kaiparachamber.co.nz
Website: www.northchamber.co.nz
Website: www.farnorthchamber.co.nz
Jeff Smith
Northland Chamber of Commerce
Ph. 09 438 4771
Fax 09 438 4770
DDI 09 4384758
mob 027 444 1010
MSN IM northchamber
Email: ceo@northchamber.co.nz
Website : www.kaiparachamber.co.nz
Website: www.northchamber.co.nz
Website: www.farnorthchamber.co.nz
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