Gisborne District Council backs 10-year city centre revitalisation framework
Councillors discussed potential conflicts of interest and absences before passing a paper setting the strategic framework for action and investment in Gisborne’s city centre revitalisation.
A $35 million, 10-year city centre revitalisation action and investment plan was presented to the Environment and Communities Committee today, alongside public consultation results.
The framework suggested council could invest $10m in the plan and seek remaining funding through Crown initiatives, its investment arm Gisborne Holdings (GHL), and the economic development agency and regional tourism organisation Trust Tairāwhiti.
The plan included phased street upgrades, planting and activations covering Lowe and Peel Sts and Reads Quay.
Of 887 recorded comments, 52% supported completion of all three phases and 18% were “unsure”.
Of those categorised as unsure, 25 responses rejected the work outright, 12 asked for investment to be deferred, 19 supported a reduced approach, and one did not explain.
Phases one and two, focusing on Lowe St and Peel St respectively, each had 15% support from the comments.
Athfield Architects’ John McIntyre presented the plan and assured councillors the decision did not approve capital costs or design works.
Each phase and its designs would be subject to future public consultation, discussions with business owners and mana whenua, and Long Term and Annual Plan processes.
Before discussion, committee chairwoman Debbie Gregory said she had sought legal and audit office advice on the participation of councillors Alexandra Boros, Jeremy Muir and Larry Foster, who owned city centre properties.
As the decision was about strategic direction rather than specific investment or final designs, their participation was allowed.
However, their participation in future discussions would need to be reviewed.
Councillor Teddy Thompson disagreed with the advice, stating they were commercial property owners voting on a plan that could cost about $42m after inflation.
“We had a rigorous debate yesterday over a 70c raise [for the price of rural rubbish stickers] to make that $6000, and here we are on a $35m-$40m decision. I also struggle that we don’t have a full council here with such a large number.”
Deputy Mayor Aubrey Ria and councillors Anne Huriwai, Rawinia Parata, Rhonda Tibble and Nick Tupara were absent because of hui and other commitments.
Mayor Rehette Stoltz had also sought advice because of her position on the Trust Tairāwhiti board.
The trust had supported the project and begun purchasing buildings in the area.
Legal advice said there was potential for bias, while Audit Office advice stated she could vote and discuss the framework because it did not commit expenditure or make a decision that would directly impact the trust.
Excluding herself and councillors with property in the city would mean only five councillors present would vote on the paper, Stoltz said.
All present councillors participated in discussions and voting. Representatives of GHL, the trust and the Chamber of Commerce encouraged councillors to support the plan.
It would encourage investment, business confidence and bring locals and visitors into the city centre, they said.
Gisborne Chamber of Commerce president Ashley Fisher said funding partnerships provided better value for ratepayers and action would only become more expensive.
“The best time to do it would have been 10 years ago; the second best time is now.”
Councillor Rob Telfer highlighted the importance of activity on Reads Quay to attract people to the city centre and for desired business activity to come to fruition.
McIntyre said there was an opportunity to relocate the farmers’ market and build the proposed playground on Reads Quay alongside work on Lowe St.
However, wider street work on Reads Quay was the final phase because of its scale.
Foster and Thompson highlighted concerns about traffic diversion from converting Reads Quay into a one-way street.
“There’s a lot of angst about the one-way system, and I think that needs to be taken seriously,” Thompson said.
He compared the issue to the Grey St/Kahutia St intersection, which was reinstated after complaints and a safety audit.
McIntyre said the one-way conversion was only a proposal at this stage, with more traffic data needed to assess its impact.
“We’d be able to test that through the early stages of the AIP [action and investment plan] period to see how that was working and if we felt it wasn’t, change it.”
He said the proposed loss of 22 car parks on Reads Quay was also modelling and could be adjusted according to parking needs.
Councillor Colin Alder said more information and engagement would be important. He suggested strategically placed posters to explain the project.
Stoltz said the city centre had received little major investment since she arrived in Gisborne in 2001 and its infrastructure needed upgrading.
“And the feedback I have received was that our CBD is tired, our CBD is uninviting, our CBD is not a place where people feel they want to hang out. I also heard something which, to me, is very telling. When people were talking about roading and potholes – the CBD is a pothole in our region.”
Gregory said setting the framework would provide businesses and investors with the leadership needed to restore confidence in the area.
“We have to be brave and be leaders and be visionary and see this and move forward.”
Gregory said further community and council input was needed on design details and capital funding.
Councillor Alexander Boros moved the paper, and Foster seconded it.
The paper passed eight to one, with Thompson voting against.
If approved, work on phase one could begin in July 2027, with the whole project expected to be complete by 2037.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.