Council to focus on Hastings city vibrancy

As part of its commitment to creating a vibrant Hastings CBD, Hastings District Council (HDC) is about to seek the views of targeted inner city business and property owners on whether they would like to develop a new framework for marketing promotions on their behalf.

Since 1994 the council has collected a targeted rate from landowners within six blocks of the city centre, totalling about $280,000 a year. With this and additional sponsorship, Hastings City Business Association stages events and promotional campaigns on behalf of CBD businesses and retailers.

This rate is routinely reviewed, and this year the council and Business Association identified a potential new model to promote vibrancy called a Business Improvement District (BID). Used by other councils around the country, BIDs are partnerships between councils and the business community with clear objectives and performance measures to meet.

They aim to make business districts more attractive places to do business and to promote this to shoppers, service users, businesses and investors.

All property owners, as well as business and retail tenants, within the six blocks of the city centre encompassing St Aubyn, Nelson, Southampton and Hastings Streets are being asked whether they would support council exploring a BID framework to deliver vibrancy to the CBD. Hastings City Business Association acting chair Wayne Walford says the consultation was a chance for business and property owners to have their say.

“It’s potentially a step forward into the future to increase the vibrancy of the city centre, but it’s important that everyone lets us know what they think would work for them.”

HDC community development committee deputy chairman Damon Harvey says while the marketing rate and how it was used may have been relevant when it was established in 1994, it was now timely to review whether it was fit for purpose.

“Since that time Hastings’ inner city has changed dramatically and with exciting new developments set to take place it’s an ideal time to review the best approach to promote the Hastings CBD and ensure it’s a vibrant, versatile environment for all businesses that operate there.”