Practical approach key in reviving city centre

REVAMP: Contractors guide a native Nikau Palm into its new home on the refurbished Cameron St Mall. PHOTO/PETER LARSEN

Whangarei's leaders remain optimistic that the flailing central business district can be revived, despite the ever-present "for lease" signs that have come to characterise the area.

Whangarei District Council is set to spend $90,000 on consultants as part of formulating its Inner City Development Plan - which aims to get investors to sit at the table with the council. The money would be spent defining the future role of the CBD, researching market rentals in the area compared with elsewhere, and outlining possible options for development.

While there was still a place for retail in the inner city, WDC Planning Committee chairman Greg Innes said it was likely that accommodation and other "social and cultural" activities would play a stronger part in the CBD's future, as inner-city shops continued to feel the pinch from Okara's bulk retailer format and increased online spending.

"Retailers still underpin the CBD ... they tend to be more boutique. But, there is a real need to retain departmental stores where we can," Mr Innes said.

Part of investigation is looking at market rents in the area and what kind of development was plausible based on these. Ratepayer money also played a part in re-invigorating the area, with Mr Innes citing the Hatea Loop and Cameron Street Laneway project as an example of public investment.

"One of the fortunate things we have is the high amenity value of the Hatea River and upper harbour. The Hatea Loop has indicated the strong interest there is from people in that area and it's a strong visitor drawcard ... Investment in infrastructure gives confidence."

The Inner City Development Plan sat alongside the 42 proposed projects across the district, some of which were already complete, which the council had pegged to complete within the next decade under its 20/20 Momentum Plan.

These ranged from a new civic centre to the pipe dream of an inner-city beach near Te Matau A Pohe and could be viewed at whangareimomentum.co.nz. Mr Innes said there was already interest from developers keen to get into the CBD.

"We want to take a practical approach and sit down and talk to them and on the basis that we can look at a way of moving forward. Councils often think of planning in a regulated way but we want to be more proactive."

A celebration marking the opening of Whangarei's first "shared space" on November 27 would celebrate council's most recent investment in the area.

Work on the $2.7 million revamp of Cameron St Mall was concluding, the tiled road surface was complete and Nikau Palms were craned in earlier this week.