The 2015 NEW BRIGHTON MASTER PLAN includes a number of themes considered by its contributors to be integral to the future growth of the coastal suburb.
These ideas are important to the LONG-TERM-PLAN because most of the considerations for the future of the central space has emanated from all the work already put into it, and much of this came from planners, but more importantly local sources (via the former Community Advisory Group CAG).
This post continues the evaluations and interpretations of the NEW BRIGHTON RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION, aimed at informing provoking feedback and encouraging an on-going participation to how the suburb will be shaped by the proposed draft LONG-TERM-PLAN.
Our suggestion is people don’t take their finger off the submission or any button whereby their valuable thoughts and positive suggestions are heard by the City Council planners.
The draft LTP has one project in particular where 14 million dollars is being proposed within the NEW BRIGHTON PUBLIC SPACES label. This covers the MASTERPLAN’s idea streams (and images) below:
Pedestrian & cycle links…
Improvement of cycling and pedestrian links in and through the centre, by providing designated cycle lanes and by creating new or enhancing existing pedestrian arcades/ laneways to areas where people can sit in sheltered spots and enjoy the ambience of New Brighton.
Carparking…
Largely the responsibility of the of the landowner/retailers providing attractive landscaping and also space for alternative forms of transports, connections to busses, far more bike racks and recharging pods for cars and cycles.
Street Upgrades…
General streetscape upgrades mainly to Beresford Street and Hawke Street, Seaview Road, Union Street, and Shaw and Oram Avenues. This will define the proposed new boundary of the commercial centre and help to create a ‘sense of arrival’, and be achieved through the use of taonga plant species, and low-impact urban design features such as rain gardens and stormwater swales.
Countdown…
The presence of an anchor tenant like Countdown is important for the growth of shopping experiences in an improved commercial space. The current supermarket is shoddy in appearance and limited in what this major brand normally offers. There is a need for a larger space for this business to be fully functional and effective and reflect the upmarket nature of its sister stores.
The NEW BRIGHTON RESIDENTS ASSN has been lobbying Woolworths and it’s land-owners to get some action as it should be leading the retail re-birth.
One solution suggested by the MASTER PLAN was the relocation of the supermarket westwards, to enable the redevelopment of it’s current site as prime coastal land, and facilitate the future hospitality and entertainment precinct.
Bus Interchange…
A bus interchange is included in the Plan as New Brighton is at the end of the route and the preferred option was to be sited within the existing Council car parking area on Beresford St, but that has now been designated for residential. There is a good case for an interchange as there will be a push to get more people on buses particularly if ECAN scrap fares).
The idea of New Brighton as being a destination for its new status as a well-being and recreational and ecological bub will ultimately see more visitors who will need well-lit, sheltered, adequate seating and real-time bus information displays.
Other ideas…
There were plenty of suggestions fed into the MASTERPLAN in addition to some already mentioned, one of these included an overhead boardwalk between across Marine Parade (see illustration) connecting library and Mall.
Another featuring a ‘’Piazza” in the Mall where people can relax in a shared space and enjoy the rants of a New Brighton wizard.
Many other thoughts referred to more nautical scenes befitting a sea-side setting, and most importantly the need to show our links to Tangata Whenua and the multiple values, history to Māori and associations with Te Tai o Mahaanui (the coast and surrounding land), Te Ihutai (the estuary) and Ōtākaro (Avon River).
Suffice to say the LONG-TERM-PLAN is a decade long journey and New Brightonians should be heavily involved in its direction.
If there was a submission the NEW BRIGHTON RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION were to make, it would be to compress the time-frames around anything to do with this part of the city, and request all related projects start now and be completed within five years.