Have a say on future of town work
The Stratford A&P Show will provide a forum for the people of Stratford to have a say on how the council’s proposed bike park will look.
Council chief executive Sven Hanne gave elected members a progress report on long-term plan projects during council’s recent policy and services meeting,
Some of the projects set out in the plan include a new or upgraded swimming pool, bike park, beautification of Prospero Place, development of a discovery trail, a wastewater treatment upgrade and a council subdivision.
$15 million was allocated to a new or refurbished pool in the Long Term Plan and Mr Hanne says the pool manager is working on this project, gathering examples from other councils. Construction of the pool is due to occur in year three of the long-term plan
(2020-21).
Some of the other long-term plan projects will be partly funded through grants, and council was recently successful in securing a $197,000 TET Community Trust grant. Mr Hanne says this money will be put towards a proposed basketball court, promotional flags, the discovery trail and bike park.
He says stage one of the bike park is now funded, with $22,000 of the TET Community Grant going towards its design. The public can enter a design competition for the bike park at the council’s tent which will be set up at the Stratford A&P Show later this month. A working group to review design competition entries will then be established, before funding is sought to pay the construction cost of the project.
The proposed discovery trail is also under way and will be a walkway that takes in points throughout the Stratford township. Around $50,000 of the TET grant will be put towards its development. Mr Hanne says the trail’s route has been confirmed and some paths have been upgraded in association with footpath improvements. Associated footpath upgrades are being worked on, including the upgrade of footpath from Malone’s Statue to Juliet Street, which will incorporate a crossing.
Design of a new kerb line by Malone’s Gates is also ready for construction, while design work for the crossing point by the gates to Victoria Park on Fenton Street is also under way.
The challenging part of the project is the artwork and “identity” of the trail, he said. Draft designs for concrete stencil work have been received and reviewed.
“Getting the art component right will make or break the success of the discovery trail. If we get it right, it’s going to be a real asset for Stratford.”