Motueka community hub not a new idea

July 21st, 2014
[by David Armstrong]

As attention in 2014 turns to the possibility of developing a library-anchored community hub at Decks Reserve (see our recent story), it is interesting to discover that the idea is actually more than 30 years old.

A search of detailed planning documents written around 1977 by the then Motueka Borough Council reveals that a hub concept involving a wide range of civic and community facilities was proposed, using much of the area that is now Decks Reserve and the car park.

An examination of the original plan, reproduced below, shows the hub would have included a library, recreation centre, health centre, social and activity centre, and administrative offices (like the TDC service centre), all around a central open square.

Parking was to go along the widened Wallace Street, on the left of the map. The High Street shops are at the top of the map.

The plan was obviously scrapped, one can imagine because of cost factors, but it does leave you wondering what central Motueka would be today if this investment had been made in 1977.

Comment by Katerina Seligman:
[Posted 29 July 2014]

Wow that is amazing. In particular to have the recreation centre closer to the centre of town would have been excellent and the whole hub might have encouraged an entirely different kind of town.

Comment by William Cleaver:
[Posted 2 August 2014]

Now why wasn't this done? What a fantastic idea. Similar thing was planned for Christchurch 2000 on the now empty Turners and Growers site before the earthquake. Retail shops, Gym, library, cafe, Micro Brewery, restaurants and even apartments to get people to move to the hub. Thus creating a mini town within the city.

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