Small town needs big ideas

By CHERIE HOWIE - The Marlborough Express

The future is in your hands, Havelock.

A year after Blenheim residents had their say on the future development of their town, the people of Havelock will get the chance to share their ideas at a public meeting on Monday.

The project is part of the first stage for Marlborough District Council-appointed planning consultants Urbanismplus in creating an urban design plan for northern Marlborough, including Havelock, Picton and Sounds communities.

The Marlborough Express yesterday spoke with community leaders and residents to find out what improvements they want to see in Havelock.

Pelorus-Northern Marlborough Sounds ward councillor Graeme Barsanti had several ideas, including extending Slogan St to the port so trucks coming to the port from Blenheim were no longer forced to travel through the town.

"That would get some of the heavy vehicles out of town and make it a little bit safer, I think."

He also wanted to see Havelock's famed mussel industry celebrated with an exhibit at the museum or the port.

Mr Barsanti said he did not have a problem with the joint initiative between the Marlborough Museum and the Marine Farming Association to create a marine farming exhibit in Blenheim, a proposal that attracted criticism from some in Havelock. "Good on them ... but we want something out in Havelock as well, we want a bit of history on mussel farming and to show how they operate."

He was also keen to see the town hall upgraded and walking tracks developed, such as one around the cemetery that could link with another at the port that went to The Mole.

"You need something extra to bring people in. It's a small town, and we've just got to keep working on it."

Mr Barsanti encouraged residents to get behind the project. "We need to hear from the people."

Havelock Real Estate property manager and charter boat skipper Pat Copp said she wanted Havelock to be more inviting to visitors, with beautification projects encouraging them to stop and attractions encouraging them to stay.

"Havelock is seen as a place to drive through. We need to have things here for them to do, something like mini-golf. It's not too expensive to set up."

More information for visitors, including better signs, would also help, Mrs Copp said.

"It's about public relations – a lot of people don't even know there's nice walks to do here."

Havelock's Allied [Mobil] Service Station co-owner Lance Delany said he wanted more car parking. Visitors often used the service station's toilets because they could not find a place to park near the public toilets.

"That's costing us, and it's a big issue in Havelock."

Havelock Vision 2020 convener Wendy Walker said the community came up with a wide range of ideas for improvements when the 2020 group held a public meeting in August last year.

She hoped that this would be repeated on Monday.

"We've got these professional people coming in [from Urbanismplus], and we can bounce our ideas off them and see if they can work.

"Everyone's always got ideas but people don't always want to listen. These guys are coming to listen," she said.

"It's going to be interesting to see what comes out of it."

 

THE CALL GOES OUT
Who: You
Where: Havelock Town Hall
When: 7pm, Monday February 8

HOW ABOUT ...?
More carparks
Extending Slogan St
Increasing attractions
Beautification projects
Better signs
Walking tracks
Mussel industry celebration

IT'S A DATE

February/March: Workshops to be held between Urbanismplus staff, Marlborough District Council staff and community and business leaders in Havelock and Picton.

April: Draft Northern Marlborough urban design report to be released for public consultation.

June: Final Northern Marlborough urban design report to be released to the public.

2011: The council to decide in principle which ideas in the final report it supports, and to look at funding options.