Editorial: Mall facelift another coup for Papamoa

When I lived in Hamilton in the 1990s, I used to come over to Papamoa on many weekends.

The area always had a crisp, summery feel and I enjoyed spending time with family and at the beach - a beach I still consider to be one of the best I have been to.

I was fortunate, when working for the Waikato Times, to spend a couple of days researching a feature story on Papamoa during that time. Back then, the talk was very much about the transition of a sleepy beach settlement into a growing suburb as people flooded into the area.

Locals talked of new, brick homes taking over from the traditional Kiwi baches.

Today, this growth story has changed. Now it's about how a fast-growing suburb is transforming into a city in its own right.

Locals say Papamoa is alive and buzzing, and has a confidence and positivity that has lifted the area.

Housing development is cracking along at a furious pace, particularly out east.

Its population has swelled 20 per cent in the past six years and Papamoa now has more than 20,000 people - up from 16,655 in the 2006 Census. Officials predict it will have nearly 60,000 people by 2051. Wairakei alone will accommodate an estimated 6500 people.

Local councillor Steve Morris has witnessed this growth. He believes it has been particularly strong in the past 12 months.

Given this, it is appropriate that the suburb's Palm Beach Plaza is about to get a major revamp.

The Bay of Plenty Times this week broke the story of how a multimillion-dollar plaza redevelopment will see its size increase by 50 per cent in an expansion programme that will include 6000sq m-plus of retail space, speciality stores and a food court.

There have been discussions with national retailers said to be keen on coming to Papamoa. Existing local retailers are excited about expanding and hiring more staff.

I have always enjoyed shopping and eating at Palm Beach Plaza but for some time have thought it was due for a makeover. This expanded, new-look shopping centre should provide an improved shopping experience and hopefully the plaza will become more of a community hub for locals.

David Hill, the centre manager, who also heads retail organisation Papamoa Unlimited, is playing a key role in these changes.

He is involved heavily in Papamoa turning itself into an events hub, also reported in the Bay of Plenty Times this week.

The city council has approved a targeted rate to help Papamoa host events. This events schedule will start with a Santa parade in November.

These changes are exciting and timely but a number of things need to happen. It will be important that locals support local businesses and events to ensure Papamoa reaches its full potential, and the events and new-look mall are a success.

It will also be important the city plans and caters for this huge growth in a measured way.

Papamoa is well positioned for the future.