Vision for future now developing

Lance Girling-Butcher has a vision for his city’s future that includes wider and smoother pathways, better public transport, improved access to healthcare and more public toilets and benches.

Legally blind, Girling-Butcher is the chairman of the New Plymouth Positive Ageing Trust, which has helped craft an Age Friendly Strategy for the district.

The strategy is to be presented to key players including New Plymouth District Council (NPDC), Taranaki Regional Council, Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, and Venture Taranaki Trust (VTT) as a guide to making the city a better place for the elderly.

The strategy came about because of the ‘‘potential chaos’’ of an ageing baby boomer generation, Girling-Butcher said. We’re concerned there’s going to be a doubling of people aged over 65. ‘‘We’re going to have a shrinking number of working-age people supporting the swelling population of people relying on their superannuation to survive,’’ he said. ’’We’ve got a plan for all that. This will break down the generational gap.’’

The effects of the ageing population would be felt across the community, he said. There would be a strain on health services, housing and a dwindling workforce.

The strategy highlights 42 ‘‘priority areas’’ including improving pathways for mobility scooters and wheelchairs, more crossings to encourage elderly to travel outside their homes, and making buildings more accessible.

Girling-Butcher said the trust would use the strategy to work in partnership with the listed agencies, which would have their own available resources to fund recommended projects.

Girling-Butcher did not know when the strategy would be presented to councils and other organisations, nor if it would be implemented. ‘‘It’s on to the second round but ultimately they’ve got to adopt it.’’

Of the priority areas, improved transportation was a top requirement, he said.

‘‘Our major concern is transport. There are a lot of sad people in the community who have lost a partner or lost their mobility and get left trapped in their home.’’

The strategy outlined the need for more frequent and affordable buses with stops at locations ‘‘older people use’’ such as medical centres, supermarkets and neighbourhood shops.

While New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom, who reviewed the strategy in its draft, called it ‘‘a good piece of work’’, he said council would need a better understanding of the financial costs it would take to tick all the right boxes.

‘‘There were some recommendations that looked to be quite substantial and would come at a high cost,’’ he said.

‘‘So we’ve asked for some clarification on how they think we can meet those expectations.’’

The Taranaki District Health Board reviewed the strategy on Wednesday.

The DHB was asked to develop an improved referral system and overall coordination of health services.