`Streets Alive’ is the Gore community’s opportunity to dream big about improvements it wants for its town.
The Gore District Council has become the first small town in New Zealand to attract $900,000 of central government funding from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s innovating streets fund – to undertake the project.
Gore District deputy Mayor and project champion Cr Bronwyn Reid said obtaining the funding has presented a unique opportunity.
“Our town has a history of innovation and a can-do attitude. The Streets Alive project is our generation’s opportunity to contribute to making our town an even more enjoyable, more vibrant and safer place for everybody who lives here.”
Gore’s streets were built wide enough for a cart and horse to turn around, before being sealed and made suitable for motorised vehicles. It was first settled in the early 1860s.
A year-long project, Streets Alive will start with a period of collaborative engagement with the community.
From the end of July, the council will start engaging with people using both traditional and online communication channels to gather the community’s ideas.
The programme will include public drop-in sessions, a survey and other community activities.
“This will be a community-driven project. We want to hear from residents about ways we could make our town more people-friendly, a safer place to move around, and a place with more vibrant and engaging public spaces,” Cr Reid said.
“It’s about giving everybody – including our more vulnerable road users such as older people and people with disabilities – more options and choices.