The Wanganui District Council last week launched an ambitious project to revitalise Wanganui’s civic and cultural precinct.

Mayor Michael Laws says “if completed, it will bring new life and new energy to the centre of our city and provide updated amenities that are the best in provincial New Zealand”. All are located in the Queens Park area.

“We have dubbed this project ‘Heart of Wanganui’ and the revamped amenities would certainly give Wanganui a popular and vibrant centre,” Mr Laws said.

The options, developed by some of New Zealand’s leading architects, were presented at two public meetings last Thursday:

Option 1 - Retain the status quo Option 1 is to retain the current facilities in their present configurations. There are significant cost implications in continuing to provide services in the existing buildings. The status quo costs include allowances for seismic upgrades and to meet Building Code Compliance requirements and also fitting out any required additions to the current buildings.
Option 2 - Library: located at Farmers site on Majestic Square Option 2 requires the purchase of the Victoria Avenue site, next to Majestic Square, which is currently occupied by Farmers. The Library is integrated with Majestic Square, with interactive media walls fronting the square plus a new pedestrian and traffic link from Majestic Square to the War Memorial Hall forecourt.
Option 3 - Library: site in the War Memorial Hall Option 3 moves the Library to the main hall area of the War Memorial Hall. As well as using the main hall space, a mezzanine floor is constructed. The existing Concert Chamber and Pioneer Room are retained as public venues. A possibility is to incorporate Wanganui Inc and i-SITE Wanganui Visitor Information Centre within the breezeway area (not included in the costings).
Option 4 - Library: surrounding the Veterans Steps (below ground) Option 4 involves “undergrounding” the Library in the area behind the Veterans Steps. The existing steps and monuments are retained and incorporated into the development. This location allows the Library to link more closely with the Museum (existing or new building).
Option 5 - Combined Library/Museum building Option 5 proposes that a new, purpose-built structure is constructed on the site of the current Museum. The existing Museum building would be demolished. The new building would house the Library and Museum. It includes basement car parking.
Option 6 - “Wraparound” Museum (mix of old and new) Option 6 sees the existing 1928 section (the façade) of the Museum building retained, with a new building “wrapped” around that section of the current building. Other parts of the existing Museum building are demolished. (This option works in with options 2, 3 and 4 for the Library).
Option 7 - Linking the Sarjeant Art Gallery to the Alexander Option 7 physically links the existing Sarjeant Gallery with the Alexander Library via a new building or accessway. The Alexander building is refurbished to create an additional gallery space.

Underground carpark option

The redevelopment concepts include the option to construct a new underground carpark below the War Memorial Hall forecourt to address parking issues that will arise with each of the options. The carpark will have an underground link to Majestic Square and will also link with the cultural facilities. It is possible that the carpark will be considered in the 2007/08 Annual Plan process, regardless of whether any of the Heart of Wanganui redevelopment options go ahead.

So what happens next?

A newsletter about the Heart of Wanganui project will be delivered to all Wanganui District households from November 6 and a series of neighbourhood meetings will follow, starting on November 12.

There will be an extensive public information campaign over the coming months, leading up to a referendum in mid-2007. Wanganui people will be asked whether or not redevelopment should go ahead and, if they want change, which options they prefer.

You can visit the Heart of Wanganui website for more information. If you have questions about the project, please email us or phone the Heart hotline on 349 0501. Our Customer Services team will note your questions/comments but may not be able to provide immediate answers.

We welcome your feedback.

Heart of Wanganui - suburban meetings

The options for Heart of Wanganui will be presented at a series of neighbourhood meetings during November and there will be the opportunity for you to ask questions. We welcome your attendance.

Our Museum will be fumigated over the weekend of November 4-5 in the afternoon. To accommodate this we will be closed from 3pm on Friday, November 3, and will reopen on Monday, November 6.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Email info@museum.queenspark.org.nz
Tel 06 349 1110 Fax 06 347 6512
Website www.wanganui-museum.org.nz

The Durie Hill Elevator will be closed from Monday, 30 October 2006, through to and including Friday, 3 November 2006.

This will allow work to be carried out on the counter weight and to replace concrete work in the pit. We regret any inconvenience.

The elevator will reopen at 9am on Saturday, 4 November 2006.

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Community Development – Tuesday, November 7
- Community and Cultural Action Plan; Waitangi Day update; Central Business District (CBD) Liquor Ban; Liquor Ban – Youth Committee comments; Smokefree policy in parks and open spaces; Wanganui St John Ambulance services; Iwi liaison; Veterans’ Steps.

Finance and Administration – Thursday, November 9

Infrastructure – Monday, November 13

Strategy – Tuesday, November 14 (Council Chamber)

Wanganui Rural Community Board – Thursday, November 16

The Council will consider the reports from all Committee meetings held in October.

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are held at 4.00pm in Committee Room 2, 1st Floor, Municipal Office Building, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui.

Agendas are available at the Customer Services Counter, Municipal Office Building, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui, and the Wanganui District Library two working days prior to the meeting.