Taranaki Daily News

Plant paradise lost: Designer disappoint­ed

- Blanton Smith and Stephanie Ockhuysen

The landscape designer behind a $100,000 jungle paradise installati­on in New Plymouth has questioned the district council’s reasoning for not making it permanent.

Michael Mansvelt’s Return to Paradise installati­on transforme­d the Huatoki Plaza from what is usually a concrete pad into a mini forest of tropical palms, ferns and other colourful plants from his nursery.

The installati­on was designed for the 10-day Centuria Taranaki Garden Festival, which ended last weekend, but the New Plymouth District Council has been considerin­g what to do with it this week after calls for it to remain permanentl­y or at least for the summer.

However, council chief executive Miriam Taris said that after looking into extension options ‘‘it doesn’t stack up economical­ly’’ to extend the installati­on over summer.

‘‘It would cost more than $100,000 for security alone over the next five months and several grassroots groups use it on a weekly basis, contributi­ng $8000 of revenue to offset rates.’’

Taris said Return to Paradise was designed as a one-off installati­on as part of the Taranaki Garden Festival and an extension had not been budgeted for.

‘‘We would have to manually water it when water restrictio­ns come in (about 2000 litres of water a week), which is another unbudgeted cost in these tough financial times when we need to continue to invest each ratepayer dollar prudently,’’ she said.

Both Mansvelt and festival organisers the Taranaki Arts Festival Trust (TAFT), which funded the installati­on 50-50 with the council, said they would be happy for it to stay. And in response to the council’s decision, Mansvelt said he was disappoint­ed he had not been called to discuss options.

‘‘They could have made an informed decision with my help. My work is informed by decades of experience, and working within budgetary constraint­s, not uncommon in a provincial area.

We could have talked through modificati­ons that I am confident would have potentiall­y addressed their concerns, such as leasing plants or volunteer watering.’’

Mansvelt did not understand the need for security, saying it was required only in the first week of the installati­on as there were cushions and books out for people to use.

‘‘I think it is important that council does not inadverten­tly send the message that greening and beautifyin­g our city is more expensive than it is. It could be prohibitiv­e to future innovation­s.

The council said it had plans for a greener Huatoki Plaza as part of the big picture 2050 Ngāmotu central city strategy but Mansvelt said he had given them an example of a temporary, cost-effective solution available now – not decades away.

‘‘We will not have to wait for years, it is already there, at a fraction of the cost of redevelopm­ent. I get that councils sometimes struggle to come up with innovative ideas but this idea has literally landed in their laps.

‘‘Unfortunat­ely, the main point of the installati­on has been missed, and something that was meant to bring life, joy and inspiratio­n to people and the city, has now left a sadness.’’

 ?? VANESSA LAURIE/STUFF ?? Michael Mansvelt is disappoint­ed his Return to Paradise installati­on will not become permanent.
VANESSA LAURIE/STUFF Michael Mansvelt is disappoint­ed his Return to Paradise installati­on will not become permanent.

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