Esplanade future about values rather than projects
The brakes have been put on plans for further projects at Palmerston North’s Victoria Esplanade by a more cautious approach to changes.
The latest version of its master plan puts the focus on upholding values and watching how the opening of Wildbase Recovery and the cycle and pedestrian bridge affect patterns of use.
The gentler approach has drawn mixed responses from councillors at a sport and recreation committee meeting.
Cr Brent Barrett said the greatest risk to the park was the pressure of development, of being ‘‘over-loved’’. He was disappointed improvements to the entrance off Park Rd and realigning the ‘‘dodgy as’’ intersection at Cook St could still be 21⁄2 years away.
And Cr Lorna Johnson said public expectations had been raised that there would be changes soon, such as a mini-golf course, camellia walk and Chinese garden, not some time after 2021.
‘‘I’m not sure about the ‘wait and see what happens’ approach. We need to be ahead of the game, not behind.’’
The public opening of the Central Energy Trust Wildbase Recovery Centre and the He Ara Kotahi cycle and pedestrian bridge early next year are expected to add substantially to the estimated 500,000 visitors the Esplanade attracts each year.
City planning manager David Murphy said it would be useful to observe how those facilities were used before the council invested more money.
Senior planner Jeff Baker said the same logic was being applied to improving the link from the Scenic Railway car park to the shared riverside pathway and bridge. There would be temporary improvements to the rundown steps and path to the river to make it serviceable but patterns of use would be watched before the council made a major investment.
The main spending at the Esplanade in the next 21⁄2 years would be on a bonsai house for the collection of plants that are tucked away at the Albert St depot.