A new vision for Majestic Square

Mainstreet Whanganui and Whanganui District Council’s Town Centre Regeneration Committee are seeking ideas from the community about the redevelopment of Majestic Square.

Mainstreet General Manager, Des Warahi, says,

“We are beginning to have a conversation with the community about how we can better utilise Majestic Square and create a really successful and active central public space in the heart of our town.

“We already have a design for the space which was created by internationally-renowned designers Urbanismplus in 2016 as part of town centre regeneration planning,” Mr Warahi says.

Town Centre Regeneration Project Manager, Ellen Young, says, “Urbanismplus identified Majestic Square as an area which could be made much more functional for events and as an active central city community gathering space.” The Urbanismplus design includes reinstating the view from Cooks Gardens to the Sarjeant Gallery, adding grassed terraces to act as informal seating during events, integrating the existing water feature into the steps and creating a children’s water play area.

Ms Young says community feedback will be taken into consideration when the design for Majestic Square is finalised next year.

“As a community project, most of the costs will be secured through fundraising with some seed-funding from the Council. The construction start date will be dependent on this funding.”

To find out more and to share your thoughts, Des Warahi and Ellen Young will be at Majestic Square, Victoria Avenue, over the next two weeks on Wednesday, 27 November, Wednesday, 4 December and Thursday, 5 December 2019 from 11.30am to 1.30pm.

A public meeting about this project will also be held on Tuesday, 10 December 2019 at 5.30pm in the Pioneer Room at the Whanganui War Memorial Centre. All are welcome.