Wachner Place Upgrade Discussed At Council

A report to the Invercargill City Council in April will look at options for making Wachner Place a more usable space, as well as considering other alternatives.

Council has confirmed its vision for the 2024 – 2034 Long-term Plan, ‘Our City with Heart,’ and held its first workshop, live streamed to the public, last week.

Mayor Nobby Clark told council today he’d had some good feedback about the workshop from the public, through being able to watch it online.

Council has indicated its priority that there be a gathering space for the city in the central city, and confirmation on that priority will be sought through the report.

Mayor Clark told the meeting he’d had discussions with people on both sides of the issue, “and some people will die in a ditch before we touch the place,” as Wachner Place has been there a long time.

He’s also had some positive discussions with teenagers about making it into a great place to hang out, have some pizza’s and with a covered area and a big screen, “even some stubbies if we relax our licensing laws,” he said.

The issue of whether to leave Esk Street cut off to traffic had been another discussion point around the city, but Mayor Clark said retailers weren’t initially keen.

But after last weekend’s celebration event at the Explore City Streetfest in the CBD, retailers changed their tune and were blown away with the foot traffic.

Rhiannon Suter, Manager – Strategy and Policy said in her initial report to council, that Esk St will reopen to traffic again at the end of March, but the design does allow for a temporary closure for events.

The masterplan work undertaken in support of the city streets work noted the challenges to creating linkages between the city centre and Wachner Place related to both weather and the state highway along Dee Street.

In response to further private sector investment in the hotel development in Esk Street West, further options are being developed for supporting this linkage.

Councillor Ian Pottinger said if Esk street was managed whenever it was suitable to be closed off, it provided a brilliant gathering space, “nothing comes close to it.”

Three options for Wachner Place will be considered in the paper being brought to the Finance and Projects Committee in April, on the City Streets Stage 2 project which is currently paused.