Demolition paves way for ’green space’
Demolition of an old earthquakeprone building marks the start of Hawera’s first town centre redevelopment project.
High St’s Campbell Building has been dismantled by Collingwood Civil to make way for the new Campbell Lane, ‘‘an attractive pedestrian thoroughfare’’ with paving, green space, trees, seating, entrance pillars and lighting columns leading through to Cornish’s carpark, although the final plans haven’t been approved.
‘‘The aim is to better connect the Cornish’s Car Park with the main street retail area and improve use of the free, unrestricted parking that is available,’’ said Phil Waite, South Taranaki District Council project coordinator.
Design work is near completion and Waite expects finals plans to be agreed on and completed by the end of July and the project could be finished by Christmas.
He said public response to the Town Centre redevelopment had been positive.
‘‘On the Campbell Lane project Council is working closely with a private investor who has bought the neighbouring (empty) building as they are also keen to redevelop,’’ he said. ‘‘This is fantastic because one of the key goals underpinning the Town Centre redevelopment was that it would be a catalyst to drive change and to encourage private enterprise to invest in the town centre – and that is what we are seeing happen.’’
The new strategy includes several key proposals including improved pedestrian and carpark connections, highlighting heritage buildings with lighting improvements, developing a new library/cultural/art centre, redeveloping the existing town square, developing a new civic green space and redesigning traffic flows.