Have a say on Eketahuna's upgrade

NEW LOOK: Eketahuna's iconic white kiwi will be keeping an eye on the progress of the town's upgrade. PHOTO/FILE

Eketahuna's town centre is to have a makeover with work starting in the 2015/16 financial year and groups and organisations in the town are being invited to have their say on how it should be done.

Tararua District Council has budgeted $430,000 in its Long-Term Plan and this financial year has been set aside for planning and consultation.

Assets manager Kathy Dever-Tod spoke to a meeting of the Eketahuna Community Board and encouraged the board to start a wide ranging and open process so townspeople could have their say in developing plans for the upgrade.

Because the main street of Eketahuna is a state highway there was likely to be some issues over moving veranda posts on buildings and an assessment is to be done on wastewater pipes to determine whether they need relining or replacement, with that work being funded separately.

The community board will be attempting to find out from the community not only what shape the town centre upgrade should take but also ways to encourage people to stop, and shop, in Eketahuna.

It is proposed the boundaries of the upgrade will be from the big, white kiwi at the southern end to the town's public toilets on the western side of the highway and from the boundary of the fire station/Eketahuna Engineering to the Haswell Street corner on the eastern side.

At a follow-up board meeting on March 27 board members set the objectives for the upgrade with the principal one being town pride.

They want Eketahuna to have a "pleasant and attractive" appearance, be a safe place to stop and shop, have the upgrade reflect the town's identity and promote its many attractions.

The board is contacting 28 listed organisations to invite them to take part in consulting over the upgrade.

These include schools, sports associations, iwi, emergency services, trusts, shopowners, artists, churches, Eketahuna Youth Group, Pukaha Mt Bruce, Eketahuna Camping Ground, Radio Eketahuna, Eketahuna Museum and the Our Town Committee.

Eketahuna Community Board chairman Charlie Death has described the planned upgrade as "an exciting project for Eketahuna".