New Plymouth the city of 'renovations'

From the Taranaki Base Hospital to the New Plymouth Police Station either way New Plymouth is expearancing a flurry of renovations threw out the city and Dribble NZ News went to investigate following Fairfax's story.

Source: Dribble NZ News/ FAIRFAX

 

 

 

 

Developments are occuring all throughout New Plymouth but is it time for a change, or is this well annoying?

With all the financial crisis from Brazil to the United States  and even China. But in Taranaki and New Plymouth in paticular its obvious spending money is flowing fast.

The Taranaki Daily News published today that the Nelson City Council has processed about $333m worth of building consents in the past three years compared to New Plymouth District Council's  $521m in the same period of time. 

Taranaki's compasison, South Taranaki District saw $273m in the period compared to Stratford's District consenting just $118m.

Building is on the rise and any resident in New Plymouth could tell, big projects such as the Taranaki Base Hospital and the New Plymouth Police Station totalling to more then $100m.

New World supermarket getting their upgrades, following NPDC's $10m Len Lye project. 

But KCL Property managing director and New Plymouth businessman Bryce Barnett said, regardless of development, New Plymouth could not grow its population - only maintain it.

"A successful provincial city is one which can maintain its existing population," Mr Barnett said.
New Plymouth is experiencing "infrastructure catch-up" rather than a growth spurt, said the man whose motto for provincial New Zealand is "you succeed if you maintain".

"I would love to see the population of New Plymouth grow but in reality it won't happen."
The city had a large transient population compared with other centres, he said. This was good business for hotels, rental apartments, restaurants, cafes and bars.

"I think we've got to accept that's what New Plymouth is all about."

 

While development created opportunities and grew confidence, residents should not hold false expectations that the economy will start to flourish, he said.

Venture Taranaki has a different take on Taranaki's population size and is targeting a regional population of 135,000 by 2035 - an increase of 26,000.

Earlier this week it launched a $20,000 campaign to lure home skilled ex-pats living overseas, particularly in Australia.

One thing almost certain to take off is Taranaki's oil and gas industry. It directly employs more than 3500 fulltime staff and in the next 12 months production is expected to increase by 56 per cent.

 

"ROADS TO BUSY FOR CARS"                                Source:  Dribble NZ News 

New Plymouth residents are annoyed with the delays threw out the city with one elderly woman saying this to a reporter from Dribble NZ "It gets annoying being in such a small vehicle for myself and not being able to fit in certain area's due to work."

"I dont know why the council has thought to do all this work at once, but there was nothing wrong with our Police Station yet they blow  twelve million on it, while all these other developments are going on"

"It's bloody mad" she said.

We caught up with a teenager in the CBD and he said "It doesn't effect me but my dad does get fustrated with all the roads works. 30km on one of our only one way's in town is rediculous!" 

Outside the New Plymouth Police Station which is on the 'One Way' in New Plymouth the work has put speeds down to 30km and "its causing real dramas" said a resident.

"Less focusing on one hundred million dollar constructions and work on the Whaiwakio bridge, thats a cock up with all the crashes we have there" 

"The delays are mad around 5pm, it gets backed up about 20km up the road and all our council can think about is Len Lye, Puke Ariki, which was perfectly fine and a street upgrade. Bloody priceless" another resident Andrea said. 

CONSTRUCTING A BOOM PUBLIC ASSETS:

Taranaki Base Hospital redevelopment – $80 million

New Plymouth police station build – $12m

Len Lye Centre – $10m

Brougham St upgrade –  $1m

Hospice Taranaki extension – $1m 

TOTAL COST: $104m (in less than a month)

 

 

BIG MONEY PRIVATE PROJECTS:

King and Queen Hotel Suites construction White Hart restoration Devon Hotel conference centre build The Mayfair restoration New Plymouth's City New World upgrade Corner of Katere and Devon roads commercial development

 

 

What do you think about New Plymouth's renovations? Is this good or bad, Comment below...