Tuesday 8 July 2014

Community Board recommends a legacy project for New Brighton

The Burwood-Pegasus Community Board is recommending the Council considers an all-weather hot saltwater pools complex as a potential legacy project for New Brighton.

The concept of an aquatic complex was a recommendation from the Community Advisory Panel established to work with the community and the Board to identify a legacy project for New Brighton.

Burwood-Pegasus Community Board Chair and Chair of the Community Advisory Panel Andrea Cummings says, "An aquatic complex would fit well with the wider development plans for New Brighton and would definitely provide a unique leisure experience for New Brighton. The complex would have a real point of difference in the city and is expected to attract a lot of visitors, which will encourage further investment in New Brighton's Business District.

"The Community Board's recommendation to the Council also seeks approval for the reallocation of Board funding to assist delivery of a feasibility study, which is needed to evaluate location and scope options for the aquatic complex. The Board has requested that work starts on the feasibility study as soon as possible."

The Panel settled on an aquatic complex as the preferred legacy project following two workshops and the results of a residents' survey, which gathered people's thoughts and ideas for a legacy project.

"The community's reaction to the survey was very encouraging, with 202 responses coming in," Ms Cummings says.

"People said they supported a project that recognises the coastal environment, is accessible and attractive for all ages and attracts people to and through the New Brighton Business District.

"The Panel discussed these principles and other ideas that came through, such as a dog park, a community centre, an aquarium complex, an artificial reef and a water park. Overall, people were very keen on the option of an all-weather hot saltwater pool complex. The Panel felt this option best fitted the community-supported principles.

"The Board is extremely pleased with the unity the Panel has achieved with their unanimous decision to recommend a hot saltwater pool complex for New Brighton. We feel heartened by the depth of feeling and passion the community has for this legacy project idea and we will work with the community to progress the concept," Ms Cummings says.

The Board's recommendation will go to the 17 July Council meeting as a Burwood-Pegasus Community Board Chairperson's report.

Background
The concept of providing a legacy project for New Brighton was raised on 3 April 2014 by the Council's Earthquake Recovery Committee of the Whole. The Committee requested staff identify options for a legacy project in New Brighton and report back to the Council.

On the 5 May 2014, the Burwood-Pegasus Community Board agreed to lead a process to identify a legacy project that involved community input. At the time of this decision, the Board had already established a Community Advisory Group for New Brighton to aid the completion of a master plan for the recovery of New Brighton. The Community Advisory Group agreed to become part of a New Brighton legacy project group, named the Community Advisory Panel (CAP).

The panel met twice and agreed to put forward one option for the Community Board to consider.

The CAP Chair is Andrea Cummings and fellow Burwood/Pegasus Community Board member Tim Sintes also sits on the CAP. Other groups represented are:

* New Brighton Project Inc
* New Brighton Pier and Foreshore Promotion Society
* Renew Brighton
* New Brighton Business and Landowners Association
* Eastern Vision
* WOW Brighton
* NZ Police.

The Panel also includes representatives from residents' associations of Southshore, South New Brighton, New Brighton, North New Brighton and Northshore.

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