A round of applause to the urban planners. Gisborne is on the cusp of a bright future thanks to the power of the pen. That is if the draft Future Development Strategy is adopted in something like its current state.
Our city is expected to grow, with 5000 new homes needed over the next 30 years. The council is seeking feedback on the draft now. I recommend anyone with a pulse have a look at the document and see what Gisborne might look like in a decade.
But a vibrant and inclusive city isn’t just houses; we can take advantage of this plan for our future in other ways. I see three areas the plan should focus on to improve our city: We need to revitalise the city centre, coordinate future infrastructure development with other projects, and ensure that all cycleways are separated.
First and foremost, the revitalisation of our city centre is pivotal. It is the heart of our city and the magnet of business. It needs to be beautiful and better. We need to establish a city square where locals and visitors can relax. Turning a section of road into a paved pedestrian area would be a good start.
We could also encourage people to live in the city centre. Multiple buildings in the CBD are empty and could be redeveloped into housing to give the city a pulse. People make a city centre, not buildings. The council should both allow and actively promote the retrofitting of these buildings and bring people back to the city.
When it comes to infrastructure, we need a coordinated approach to get work done faster. Future planning should identify whenever an infrastructure project happens on land that includes potential for a shared pathway or cycleway. For example, when wastewater pipes are put in (and the road is torn up), we should instal a cycleway at the same time. By aligning these jobs, we can save time and money.
Next, all future cycle paths should be protected lanes, physically separated from traffic by a barrier. Cars don’t like cyclists and vice versa. Also, including everyone in the cycling infrastructure is crucial. Research consistently shows that protected cycle paths increase the number of cyclists, particularly among women, children and individuals with disabilities. Opting for cost-effective painted lines falls short of meeting everyone’s needs.
The good news is the Future Development Strategy is solid. Hard work has been done to future-proof our city. The document proposes that our growth stays in the city (thankfully not on our farms), connects our people, brings life to our streets, but most importantly, affords our people the dignity of suitable homes.
Tairāwhiti has 603 applicants on the Housing Register with the Ministry of Social Development. That’s hundreds of our people without stable homes. We need to do better so those people can put down roots and grow.
This plan will help our city thrive, create connections between our people, and give people the dignity of homes. Here’s to the power of the pen and the urban planners behind them.
■ Jack Marshall is a freelance writer from Tairāwhiti and a former Gisborne Herald reporter.
