Green light for Masterton revamp

NEW LOOK: Community Development Officer Sandy Ryan with Sam Oldfield of the Lansdowne Working Party on-site in First Street. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA.

A facelift which could restore a Masterton suburb to its former glory is about to start in earnest.

The revitalisation of Lansdowne has five stated aims and a Wairarapa consultancy firm, Spiire NZ, Ltd has signed on to come up with a feasible plan.

Driving the project is a desire to improve the atmosphere of the village which for many years was the jewel in Masterton's crown but which, as a shopping precinct, has been struggling to compete with the likes of newly energised areas of the town such as Kuripuni.

The plan to lift the profile and the atmosphere of Lansdowne has come from residents of the suburb along with some shopkeepers and landlords.

A Lansdowne Working Party has been set-up working alongside Masterton District Council, in particular its community development officer Sandy Ryan, with $30,000 set aside in the annual plan for concept and action studies.

Mrs Ryan said Spiire NZ Ltd specialise in urban development and transport.

She said the objectives for the Lansdowne project are:

- to improve the atmosphere of the village

- provide better parking

- control vehicle speeds

- improve landscaping

- provide better outside areas for cafe dining.

Mrs Ryan said the revitalisation programme was being driven by the residents of Lansdowne but she, along with Masterton mayor Lyn Patterson and council officers, had looked at what other districts are planning, particularly Porirua city where a major revitalisation project is on the drawing board.

Residents wanted better traffic control in the shopping precinct as it was felt cars travelled too fast and there was a general lack of respect for shoppers.

Included in the wish list is the creation of green spaces with trees being planted, and also "bumping spaces" where people can meet up and chat.

On the more immediate horizon is a plan to host a summer carnival, probably in Burling Park, along the lines of a family day out as the Lansdowne Working Party is keen to get as many residents on-board as it can.

Masterton District Council has already voted a grant of $3000 for the summer carnival.

The concept plan that is to be produced will be the first step in defining what can be achieved to improve the streetscape and Spiire is likely to enlist the help of the Isthmus Landscape Group who they have an excellent working relationship with.

Mrs Ryan said once a concept plan has been agreed on it will be included in next year's annual plan and she is confident "tangible changes" in Lansdowne will be seen "easily within two years."