When developing the plan for the main street several constraints and opportunities were identified.
The constraints included protecting heritage buildings, privately owned land on the main street and the main street being a state highway.
The opportunities included (but were not limited to) proximity to the Tui Trail, ‘Two-sided’ main street, proximity to Waiau River, repurposing of the railway station and gateway opportunities.
The plan considers five key moves and believes these key moves will enhance the opportunities, revitalise the main street and address some of the identified constraints.
These key moves are:
- Consolidate the village centre
The main street is currently spread over a large area somewhat separated by a slight kink in the road. Creating a smaller hub area for the main street will encourage cohesion within the town.
- Enhance Waiau River and open space connections
The township is located near the Waiau River and has many beautiful trails close by which provide a connection to the main street. Further enhancement of and wayfinding for these trails will help connect the main street to other open spaces and nearby recreational opportunities.
- Upgrade the main street
Enhancing the gateways to the town and revitalising existing buildings will help create an important first impression and encourage visitors to stop and explore the town further. Upgrades to parking and improving pedestrian safety by implementing traffic calming measures (such as planter boxes) will provide safe access to the railway station and other wayfinding spots throughout the main street.
- Develop the main street
There is potential to create commercial opportunities on both sides of the road to make Tuatapere have a two-sided main street. These opportunities could be utilised by Council or private developers.
- Small projects
There are a number of small projects which have the potential to add to the impact of revitalisation, including beautification and planting, creating a colour palette for the town, and enhancing and encouraging more use of existing facilities along with many others.
You can find out more information about this project in the detailed plan here.
We want to hear from you
Community feedback is important to help prioritise the projects and to help the board understand where the community believe these moves will help develop some of the town's untapped potential.
Feedback closes 9am Monday 5th September 2022.
Do the believe these key moves will help to address some of the opportunities and constraints the town is facing? If so why or why not?
Do you think that if there is increased opportunities to move to and buy residential land in Tuatapere, that this could create an increase in business growth and vibrancy in the main street? If so, why or why not?
If these key moves go ahead, would you like to see some of them trialled through temporary events/activities prior to a full funding commitment being made for the permanent solution?
I agree with you Miles even although I am a…
I agree with you Miles even although I am a newcomer. Consultants from far away who do not know the town or its history are not needed. The community can get together, vision, get creative, plan, and execute what they want. We just need to give ourselves permission to do so again. Leave council out of it. They just want big projects to increase their budgets (and egos) and tax us more.
Dylan
Monday 22 Aug 2022
Unfortunately I feel that the Community Board and SDC have…
Unfortunately I feel that the Community Board and SDC have once again gone about this process in a completely inappropriate manner. If community support is truly desired, then you must include the community from the beginning and throughout the entire process. Effectively this process has been silent for 2 years aside from the Tuatapere & Districts Promotions proposal that appears to have been shut down. Now, without any input from the community, plans have been developed that do not appear to allow for meaningful alternatives to be considered.
The suggestion that "COVID-19 alert levels had an impact on the ability to carry out wider community engagement" is simply untrue. Consultations have been occurring throughout 2022 (e.g. Tuatapere Promotions, Stewart Island) without issue!
I ask that the Community Board/SDC provide a complete list of the "community groups, local business owners, Waiau Area School [who?] and other community leaders" who were involved in the "targeted engagement" and the "insights" gathered so that the entire community can consider these "insights" as well.
It is my understanding that the actions of the Community Board have influenced the recess/closure of a very long standing group within Tuatapere that has been fundamental in past promotion of both Tuatapere and the surrounding areas - a very poor outcome for the community and the complete opposite of what the Community Board/SDC should be working towards.
Previous engagement (2020) was only related to the Railway Building, nothing more - no detail of the surrounding land etc. was included or provided. As part of that process questions were raised that were never answered and quite a few ideas were suggested that have never seen the light of day. Interpretation of the 2020 survey is questionable considering 51% (the majority) did not support the Community Board retaining ownership and maintenance of the building.
I have no doubt most in the Community want to see a significant improvement in Tuatapere and the provided plans offer something, however I believe they are completely out of touch. Tuatapere was built on Timber/Sawmilling and Farming, a Rail Precinct is a very poor fit. To make the case to develop a Rail Precinct simply because we have a Railway Building in disrepair, in my opinion, is a very poor one. (I am not suggesting that the Railway Building should be excluded.) Kingston, Lumsden and Fairfax already have a rail focus, they all have working rail lines (or are close) and rolling stock, Tuatapere does not.
The history of Tuatapere shows that it has always stood on its own, always being different. Copying others makes no sense, and I don't believe a Rail Precinct in Tuatapere would ever compete with the likes of Lumsden or attract much interest (it simply does not have Rail folk to support it). Much of Lumsden's success has been due to freedom camping so it is a poor comparison.
Tuatapere has a working Sawmill, a Bushman's Museum and a history of Timber/Sawmilling and farming - not Rail! There is plenty of written history available in the Memorial Library to support this and I doubt there would be any/many in the community who would disagree?
No business case has been put forward to support the plans nor costing of the Main Street plan. Currently there are at least 3 major businesses (Service Station, Hardware Store, Hungry Hippo) for sale, 2 of which have been on the market for considerable time, which may suggest poor external interest. Other food and accommodation businesses are not currently trading or are not open for full business (pre COVID-19). Some simple calculations of bed nights etc., based on maximum Hump Ridge Track capacity and expected Tuatapere 'stay over' nights, indicates existing accommodation may well be adequate - why have the plans not included this level of detail/investigation?
At the recent Community Board Extraordinary Meeting (August 1st, 2022) it was suggested that rates would be unaffected by these two plans. Questions need to be raised about how accurate this is and if SDC will guarantee this, factoring in ongoing maintenance etc. of elements of the two plans. $20,000 for the development of these plans has already been allocated from rates!
Considering the importance of the suggested changes to Tuatapere and the money involved, it appears these plans are being rushed. A 2 week consultation period is too short. No outcome or review process has been included to allow for alternate suggestions/plans to be considered and fed back to the community for further consideration.
The focus of these plans appears to be around supporting tourists with very little thought on community needs. A theme is mentioned without offering any suggestions - the theme should be the starting point to which the rest is built around.
The Hump Ridge Track is a seasonal attraction - effectively only 6 months of the year - no consideration has been given to this or the now obvious fragility of tourism - are the proposed Main Street businesses to close down for 6 months when the track is closed (very few businesses can survive with only a half year of good sales/services)?
Myles Greber
Thursday 4 Aug 2022