Gondola part of 'big picture' for Hutt

Ambitious ideas for revitalising Lower Hutt

PAUL EASTON

A gondola up Wainuiomata Hill, a sea walkway in Petone, and a sunken garden in a Kelson quarry are proposed in a master plan to revitalise Lower Hutt.

The Hutt City Council report examines the attractions of each Hutt suburb, and looks at ways of improving them.

"It's pulling together all the different visions we have for the city, and looking at ways we can put life back into parts of the city," mayor Ray Wallace said.

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"It's big-picture stuff, we're not going to be out there building tomorrow, or making ratepayers pay for it."

Among the proposals is a plan to connect Petone's Jackson St to the sea with an "attractive sea walkway" that would run down Buick St. A pedestrian bridge would take walkers over The Esplanade to the sea.

It also suggests Wainuiomata could be developed as a "wilderness gateway". Better access to the Wainuiomata River and wetlands could turn them into tourist attractions.

The Wainuiomata Hill lookout could be developed into an eco-attraction, complete with a cafe and gondola.

Wainuiomata Rugby Club president John Morrissey, who tried to promote the suburb as a tourist mecca to World Cup visitors, said he was keen on the gondola idea.

"I've been talking about it for years. You could put a gondola up one side and luge down the other side into town."

Mr Morrissey said the view from the lookout across Wellington Harbour was "the nicest in the world".

Mr Wallace said a gondola would be a major attraction: "Never say never ... this is about having a vision for the future."

Another proposal was to turn a quarry near Kelson into a sunken garden or recreational park along the lines of Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island.

If the council approves the plan, it will go out to public consultation as part of the 2012-22 long-term plan.

Proposals for Hutt suburbs include:

- Improve facilities at Huia Pool to Olympic standard.
- A riverside promenade near Lower Hutt's CBD.
- Develop the old Waiwhetu School site. A boardwalk network at the end of Wainuiomata's Coast Rd.
- Redevelop Avalon Park playground.
- Make improvements to Moera's Hutt Park.
- Revamp Stokes Valley's Speldhurst Park into a youth activity area, complete with outdoor basketball court.

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Download the full report here:

Part One and Part Two (PDF)

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- © Fairfax NZ News