Castlecliff's plea for continued support

A public meeting will be held this month to update the Castlecliff community on the suburb's rejuvenation project. Photo/ Bevan Conley

A petition asking Whanganui District Council for continued financial support for the Castlecliff Rejuvenation Project will be presented to councillors in May.

The online petition has so far gained 175 signatures and people will be able to sign in person at an April 26 public meeting at Castlecliff School.

Progress Castlecliff's Jamie Waugh will also update the community on what has been achieved over the past year and plans for 2017, including the next stage of the Rangiora St upgrade and where the port, cycleway and surf club projects are at.

"I'll be talking about what's been going on behind the scenes. People might have seen trees being planted and roading get done but I just want to make sure people realise what's behind that," Mr Waugh said.

"There's also some challenges I want to be talking to the community about and that's getting ongoing funding from the council."

That's where the petition comes in.

"It's basically about people to showing their support for the council to continue to its partnership with Progress Castlecliff to achieve the goals of the rejuvenation project," Mr Waugh said.

"Because there's a new council and I'm aware they weren't there for the last three years. But I'm confident they will continue to show the vision that it has in supporting this project for the benefit of the district."

Mr Waugh said coinciding the rejuvenation project has coincided with a 15 per cent increase in house prices, the creation of eleven fulltime jobs and an increase the amount of people staying at the camp ground.

"That work is the catalyst for it," he said. "I can't imagine a project that would lead to more dollar for dollar benefit. And there's been a lot of private investment off the back of it."

The meeting will also be a chance for people to put forward ideas for the coastal reserve.

*The online petition can be found on the Progress Castlecliff Facebook page. Hard copies will be available at the public meeting at Castlecliff School at 5.30pm on April 26.