New CBA faces exciting challenge

DONNA WALSH/Waikato Times

NEW ROLE: Ree Varcoe is the Central Business Association’s new general manager.

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The head of Hamilton's new Central Business Association is keen to distance herself from her former employer, the Hamilton City Council, saying she understands her new role will mean standing up to city hall.

Ree Varcoe has been named general manager of the new Central Business Association set up to represent and save the city's ailing retail centre.

The search for a general manager for the association has been a lengthy one and Ms Varcoe said in the end the association, chaired by SkyCity Hamilton general manager Arthur Pitcher, came to her and asked her to fill the role. "They asked me to do it because I have been working with them for so long," she said. "I understand that members are concerned about the separation from council, they want the association to be able to stand up to council."

The association has employed consultants Business Lab to help it formulate a strategic plan. Meetings have been held this week asking for input from city retailers and land owners.

At yesterday's meeting the biggest concerns raised were the poor perception and marketing of Hamilton's central business district, poor urban design and parking issues, vacant buildings, poor technology and the city's lack of use of the river.

Solutions offered included the council, CBA and regional tourism authority working together to market the city and focusing on the city's benefits including 17,000 car parks which were available and pushing its branding as an event capital. It was suggested the city should look at partnering with suppliers to spruce up shop fronts similar to the main street programme run 15 years ago.

Wintec chief executive Mark Flowers said, "We're never going to get answers everybody likes, sooner or later we just have to get on with it and that will bring the confidence and investors."

Ideas people wanted implemented included turning the riverside into an entertainment hub, WiFi throughout the CBD and an improvement in some of the city's dilapidated buildings. It was also suggested the Victoria St upgrade be redone. Police officers commented on the dangerous design and others said it should have be turned into a pedestrian street instead of people dining al-fresco brushing away diesel fumes as they tried to drink their coffee.

Another person pointed out the council's draconian bylaw which forced cafe owners to remove diners from the street.

Ms Varcoe told the meeting she was not aware of the situation. The Waikato Times highlighted the problem last Saturday and quoted Ms Varcoe who said the bylaw was to allow disabled people to get down the footpath. She said the council had taken an educational approach.

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