In this second post New Brighton Residents Assn highlights more detail about the City Council’s Long-Term-Plan. This is just a general view as per “our interpretation”, but far more detail will be released by the Council at the commencement of each piece of work over the next decade, and there will be opportunity for more local input.
TO PUT IT INTO PERSPECTIVE ONCE AGAIN, OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS… OF THE NINE SUBURBAN MASTERPLANS ACROSS THE CITY… IT APPEARS NEW BRIGHTON HAS GOT 70% OF THE TOTAL SUBURBAN CENTRE MASTERPLAN CAPITAL BUDGET FOR THE WHOLE CITY.
It is very important as many of us in the Coastal Ward as possible, complete a submission supporting the current Long-Term-Plan in just a few choice words. Others may also want to make comments or suggestions as part of their input. How to do this is outlined in the previous Facebook post.
The first of the three projects NBRA is highlighting is the:
NEW BRIGHTON PUBLIC SPACES project
This largely relates to the delivery of projects included in the ‘NEW BRIGHTON MASTER PLAN’, adopted in March 2015 and up to 14 million dollars allocated. It is about the revitalisation of the Mall, but mainly the roads, footpaths, landscaping, public amenities and beautification within this space.
Remember though, the rebuild of the actual retail area, its shape and style and buildings is the responsibility of investors and land owners, and that money still has to come from this source. The LTP is designed to work towards create the overall objectives out-lined in the existing Master Plan, and providing a platform to encourage external investment.
NEW BRIGHTON PUBLIC SPACES also includes $1.5 million 2021/22 land acquisition for the proposed Oram Ave road extension. It also includes additional funding it’s construction from the year 2025-26. Important to note here the negotiations with these particular land-owners is underway but yet to be finalised.
There will be further consultations with the public about this project, for instance whether the Oram Ave extension should be a one-way or two lane and landscaping around other areas of the Mall etc.
Funding is allocated over the three year period (from 2025/26 to 2028-29) delivering other Master Plan public realm projects including the upgrade of the New Brighton Mall space and general central streetscape upgrades (e.g. Seaview Road, Beresford Street, Hawke Street, Union Street and Shaw Ave).
These will fit into the completed Oram Ave extension and be tailored to the new housing projects along Beresford St and Seaview Rd/Hawke Streets.
The second is the NEW BRIGHTON ROADING & TRANSPORT project is a ten year objective starting next year, and will include upgrades of 13 streets including Gresham, Mafeking, Rawhiti, Baker etc.
A very important consideration with all road works between Pages Rd and Bridge Street, will be looking a design strategies to improve the ability of residents to evacuate in the event of a tsunami.
The third project the New Brighton Residents Association is highlighting in the City Council’s Long-Term-Plan, is the $21 million dollar PAGES ROAD BRIDGE, and work on this starts next year. The first stage will be presenting up to half a dozen concept plans people to provide feedback (including tsunami considerations). This will include an upgrade of the troublesome flood prone Pages Rd from Anzac Drive lights.
As an example of a group submission, Coastal Community Board member Jo Zervos is coordinating a submission/petition for anybody to sign supporting the draft LTP funding of all the above, PLUS requesting the re-instatement of New Brighton Road to a fully function two way vehicle system with footpaths and cycleway, to be included in the Plan in association with the new Pages Road Bridge, likely directing traffic into Hawke Street.
IN SUMMARY, THIS DECADE WILL BE HUGE FOR NEW BRIGHTON, AND WILL ENCOURAGE A GREAT DEAL MORE INVESTMENT INTO BOTH THE RETAIL SECTOR AS WELL AS HOUSING, AND INTO RECREATIONAL/ECO TOURISM.
In the next New Brighton Residents Post, we will explore the relevance of the 2015 NEW BRIGHTON MASTER PLAN IN RELATION TO THE LONG-TERM-PLAN.