Plant paradise lost: Designer disappointed
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.’’