ORAM AV extension... Where the bloody hell are you ?

Brian from New Brighton

Whether or not this is a get yourself launched in your new National Party New Brighton office’ stunt, MP Jo Hayes has identified a very important action for the future of the central area of New Brighton...the Oram Av extension.

She has identified the black hole the plan fell into, and despite the urgings of local residents and long suffering retailers, our local council representative has had four years since the release of the mall plan, to get this on the council agenda as per the intended plan of action FIVE YEARS AGO.

Ms Hayes summed it up with: ”Today I launched my petition to the CCC to make Oram Ave and New Brighton mall redevelopment a priority in the 2020/2021 Annual Plan. Essentially, we are sick and tired of being the after-thought of this city.” Effectively echoing the thoughts of many of us whatever political persuasion.

BRIEF HISTORY
The Master Plan for New Brighton was approved and put out for public notification in 2012 and finally approved by the City Council in March 2015.
This signalled a false dawn because most of the focus then turned to the inner city where the powerful business lobby cajoled the city councillors into investing time and money into that part of town and New Brighton fell into yesterday’s fishnchip paper bin.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT ?
Briefly...the idea of the north-south extension is to make the commercial centre of New Brighton more viable and give it a point of identity.
It will be a link between the Oram Av bus interchange and the mall and enhance connectivity between sea, river, car parks and shopping.

HOW ?
By condensing the mall between Marine Pde and Oram Av with little side lanes leading to north carpark, based around an anchor tenant like Countdown. It also connects Hawke and Beresford and drags patronage from Marine through the southern edge of the new mall.

TO ACHIEVE WHAT ?
To create both and day and evening economy and with it being north-south orientated to the sun and shelter becomes a magnet for hospitality corridor with outdoor seating available.
It would also take the pressure of Marine Pde (between Hawke and Beresford) and allow that section to be converted into a pedestrian (and cyclist) only boulevard. This would enhance the current building of commercial activity opposite the playground and library.

SO WHAT HAPPENED ?
In short not much at all.
• The 2015 plan clearly indicates the next steps would be the allocation of funding to fund the road construction (nothing so far).
• Purchase of land, (not much private land really required and money already allocated for this years ago).
• Start of the planning and urban design (nope, nothing seen the light of day).
• Undertake public consultation (you must be kidding).
• Commence construction.

This is just my opinion, but I believe this sad episode highlights the need why we really need the newly elected local body community board and city councillors making up for lost time, and as Jo Hayes says, no longer being treated as an “after-thought”.
This is not a hard task as the city council own the majority of the area (the road) to complete this neglected project. DCL will have been talking to the landlord and to negotiate the sale of the two empty shops and carpark. If not the road can be dog-legged to go through an existing north south lane.

Prospective local body candidates will be aware, the Oram Av extension is pivotal for the future of the New Brighton commercial core and start campaigning on it now.