northland chamber

LEADER COLUMN AUGUST 2011
This month’s 20-20-Inner-City-Development-Subcommittee meeting did more than just outline the Whangarei District Councils vision for the commercial business district; it also provided an update on a number of key projects that the council intends to undertake to bring their vision to fruition. The community will see some highly visible physical elements that will do much to create a sense of arrival and legibility for visitors and a sense of place for the district’s residents.

One of the most obvious of these which is now close to completion is the new canopy over the Victoria Street Bridge. This will provide an arena for a wide range of activities of varying size and create a key visual element tying the CBD and the Town Basin. Furthermore with this structure being constructed by Fabric Structure Systems it is an opportunity to celebrate the creativity and capability of Whangarei business.

At the same time the conceptual form of the linkage between the Town Basin and Cameron Street Mall is beginning to reach a level of detail that will enable the Council to consult with and receive feedback from the various CBD stakeholders. It appears that James Street is likely to be the main connector between Cameron Street Mall and the Town Basin with this street becoming either a laneway or mall. It is possible that the change could be carried out in stages, starting with a laneway and then progressing to a full extended mall.

The conceptual options currently before the council allow for covered walkways, pedestrian friendly streetscapes and dedicated activity strips aimed at enlivening the edge of existing commercial buildings and encouraging movement on foot through the city. Interestingly the council has a relatively short time frame for these projects with much of the work programmed for completion within three to five years. This would mean that Whangarei’s inner-city would have a dramatically different form, and present a much more attractive environment for retail activity than it currently does.

These projects and overall concept may not be to everyone’s liking but they do provide a sense of certainty and direction. They allow business to invest based on an informed vision as to where the council sees our city in the future. What then remains to complete this vision are possibly the rationalization of council office space and the developing of a stronger focus for performing arts around Forum North