Hastings Urban Issues Workshops

The Hastings Urban issues workshop on September 7 attracted great representation from the different sessions; specifically transport, arts and environmental groups and businesses and built environment groups.

The public meeting also had a good turnout raising a number of different issues with the main urban centres of Hastings. Between the three focus group meetings and the public meeting there was just over 100 attendees.

Internationally renowned urban designer Kobus Mentz of Urbanism Plus facilitated these public sessions with fascinating flair, impressive energy and an ability to keep the audience focused yet at ease, with humor.

Kobus and his team of experts then conducted an ‘Inquiry by Design’ workshop which was a four day intense design workshop with Council staff to help build a picture of what makes Hastings work now and how it could be improved in the future. A number of key stakeholders with specific knowledge and experience were invited to join and contribute to the workshop where appropriate.

The issues gathered from the public sessions on the Monday 7th September 2009 as well as the staff workshops are currently assisting the consultants develop responses to their brief.

Public meeting notes

• Pubilc meeting notes (PDF 45kB)

Focus Group meeting notes

• Focus Group 1 (PDF 18kB)
• Focus Group 2 (PDF 20kB)
• Focus Group 3 (PDF 21kB)

Next meeting – Tuesday 6th October 2009

Urbanism plus will be presenting their findings to the public for feedback and further contribution into possible approaches for the future of the Hastings CBD and the wider urban areas.

Tuesday 6th October 2009
7.30pm – 9.00pm Shakespeare Room,
Hawke's Bay Opera House

This is an important opportunity to input into the findings and comment on the possible options that will be presented for the future of the Hastings urban area(s).

Please contact the Project Manager (Phil McKay) and/or the Project Coordinator (Nia Belcher) at phone number 06 871 5000 or email: urban.design@hdc.govt.nz for further information.

Background

The Hastings Urban Issues workshops aim to investigate and provide a response to various growth and planning issues facing the District particularly within the urban centres. These issues include;

• How the Hastings CBD should develop to ensure a lively, prosperous and safe future for the city centre, including:
  • Recommendations for the promised $3 million dollar open space as a result of the Nelson Park Sale
• How the greater Hastings urban area, including Havelock North and Flaxmere should grow

In order to achieve a co-coordinated approach to the future of the Hastings CBD area, Hastings District Council has commissioned internationally renowned urban designer Kobus Mentz of Urbanism Plus and his team of experts to develop a Hastings Urban Design Strategy.

The scheduled workshops will involve a range of disciplines drawing together different sectors of the community and design guidance. This is an important step in shaping the city’s heart and future growth direction.

Scope

The project is mostly confined to the Hastings CBD in terms of detail, given the current urban design frameworks for the Havelock North and Flaxmere Town Centres. 

Nevertheless an important component of the project is to gain an understanding of how the greater Hastings urban area (including Flaxmere and Havelock North) functions, in recognizing the interrelationship of Hastings Flaxmere and Havelock North. 

The project is also intended to identify any actions that will assist in the successful implementation of the Flaxmere and Havelock North urban design frameworks, particularly in relation to transportation networks.

In terms of growth, the scope of the project is the wider Hastings Urban area in seeking to identify the most sustainable growth opportunities within the existing urban footprints. 

This is particularly in relation to the optimum locations and design requirements for medium density housing.  It will also seek to inform the Heretaunga Plains Urban Design Strategy with regard to the optimal directions for future growth with regard to the sustainable functioning of the greater Hastings Urban Area.

Aim

The aim of the workshops is to investigate urban issues in an integrated way giving consideration to urban design, recreation space networks, transport linkages, economic development, social networks, environmental footprint, town centre economics, sustainable development and other relevant issues.

Goals

• To consider both the future of the Hastings CBD and the wider Hastings urban area considering growth issues in an integrated manner; matters such as transport, service infrastructure, open space, built form, the economy, environmental issues, social needs, recreation, culture and heritage.

• To establish a clear vision and direction on how we want to shape and improve our CBD, including how best to locate and use the promised $3 million public open space.

• To identify where the most sustainable opportunities for denser housing types over Hastings, Havelock North and Flaxmere are; and how we can ensure that such housing enhances the environment.

Project Team of Technical Experts and Facilitators

This is a unique opportunity to be involved with Australasia’s leading Urban Design and Town Centre experts who will  facilitate a public meeting and technical workshops and provide advice on these issues  in shaping the future of Hastings.

The team consists of the following:

Kobus Mentz
Director of Urbanismplus Ltd.
One of NZ’s most experienced urban designers with expertise in producing urban design solutions. Kobus has over 20 years international experience in strategic planning, master planning & consultation/design processes.

Ian Munro
Ian, an urban planner & senior associate at Urbanismplus has specialist skills in managing the regulatory & consent process from a design & physical space-based position and on securing positive, win-win urban outcomes.

Nicola Albiston
Nicola is a qualified planner & urban designer with project co-ordination & management experience. Nicola has specific experience in town centre & transport specific urban design.

Wayne Bredemeijer
Wayne is a professional urban Designer with expertise both at a strategic & detailed level. His experience includes detailed master plan design, urban design analysis, scenario development & option formulation.

Mike Cullen
Director of Patrick Partners Pty Ltd.
Mike is an internationally recognised town centre planner with a broad experience base. Mike insists on working in inter-disciplinary teams to resolve the complexities of town centre functionality.

Jim Higgs
Director of TTM Consulting Pty Ltd
Jim has considerable experience in planning and design management across a broad field of traffic engineering & transport related projects in all eastern Australian States and internationally.

Craig Pocock
Director of Pocock Design
With 14 years of professional practice as a landscape architect Craig has extensive experience working in design and project management in NZ, Jordan, Palestine, India & the USA.

More information

Philip McKay

Hastings District Council Team Leader, Environmental Policy /Project Manager

Nia Belcher

Hastings District Council Senior, Environmental Policy / Project Co-ordinator

Phone: 06 871 5000

Email: urban.design@hdc.govt.nz