Raetihi's revamp plans find favour

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 612, 14 November 1995, Page 3

Raetihi's revamp plans find favour

The preliminary plans for the Raetihi Mainstreet project were presented to.a Committee of Winning Waimarino in Ohakune last Wednesday by John Achari of Urban Design Consultants in Wellington. The plans, which were favourably received by the committee, will next be presented to the Waimarino Community Board, the Ruapehu District Council and the public to get community feedback on the proposed 'new look' image for Raetihi. Taking the theme of an historic timber town, John Achari's proposals include the creating of 'visual gateways' at each of the four entrances to the town from Ohakune, Pipiriki and both the northern and southern approaches along SH4. These visual gateways would be constructed of timber in keeping with the historic theme but would not impede the flow of traffic or restrict the vision of the driver. Instead, they are intended to raise the awareness of travellers to the fact that they are about to enter an area of some significance. This is particularly important for travellers on SH4 who are often not aware of the extent of the township and the availability of shops, clubs, cafes, museum and information centre, as they speed past the intersection with Seddon Street. The proposal calls for a portal-like entrance at both ends of Seddon Street thereby creating a visually enclosed environment between the intersection with SH4 and just beyond the Duncan Street intersection to include the Waimarino Museum and the former county offices. This area, the commercial heart of Raetihi, would re-

ceive special treatment with brick and specially treated timber brick paved footpaths and tree and shrub plantings to highlight certain areas along the length of the street. In order to achieve the desired result as soon as possible, once approval to go ahead has been obtained, it is intended to use primary and secondary tree and shrub plantings so that the larger and faster growing exotics are planted together with the slower growing native species until they are established at which point the exotics would be removed. Paris of the road surface of Seddon Street itself would also receive special attention particularly at the intersection of Ward Street and Duncan Street, possibly in the form of brick or cobblestone paving. The shop fronts along the length of the commercial area would also receive attention particularly those on the southern side of Seddon Street while the empty sections on the northern side might be fenced off using timber screens in keeping with the mill-town theme. It was suggested that designs for these screens might be open to competition within the Raetihi and Waimarino community. As part of his brief Mr Achari is to make recommendations for a 'palette of colours' which could be used for buildings and shop fronts that would reflect the historic nature and preserve the architectural integrity of the town. Mainstreet plans for Ohakune are still in the pipeline awaiting the outcome of talks between the Waimarino Community Board, the Ruapehu District Council and shop owners in Goldfinch Street about the parking problem in the commercial area.