Another Master Plan from the Expert CCC Plannerista

Posted in response to Yet Another Master Plan (Press, Nov 6, 2012, this ol' gull has a more sober view than the local cheerleaders, essential though they may be. The 2002 Master Plan (yes, folk, there Was one) envisaged fairly much what locals now appear to desire intensely. It includes 5-7 storey apartments, and if proceeded with at that time would have brought discretionary-i­ncome-earning residents to the area, and provided the revitalisation being talkked about ever since the old Pier went down in 1965. The 2002 Plan had two massive defects. The dysfunctional CCC (quelle surprise) had not actually bothered to allow for any of this in its District Plan. It took until 2009 - seven long years - to get Plan Change 27 through the gate and allow any building whatsoever which could see over the high dunes. The 2002 plan also drew heavy opposition from a small but vocal group of locals, as did the Slow Road which replaced the pedestrian mall. This opposition polarised the community, and the effects linger to this day. The net effect of these circumnstances was to turn away investment, deny building (no Plan/zoning), and significantly decrease the overall attractiveness of the suburb both in terms of housing stock and inhabitants thereof. The 2006 Census (taken just before the current rot set in) reveals low incomes, high transfer-paymen­t dependency, and this of course makes retail of any sort very wary. In addition, the retail oxygen has been sucked out of the area by a combination of nearby malls (thanks, CCC yet again), the depopulation of Wainoni, Bexley, Aranui and South Brighton/Souths­hore (thanks, Gaia), and the fact that with population only in a narrow strip along the beach, there isn't exactly a critical mass of customers there anyway. So there's a Perfect Storm: - zoning (at last) for intensification but no money (GFC) - low income population means little discretionary spend - locals who are belatedly now trying to make up for a decade of furious opposition to Business - a low standard of housing in the area (take a look on Marine Parade south of Beresford Street) - the usual litany of tagging, street aggro and assorted underclass provocations - but of course Tomorrow will be a Better Brighton Day.... And in the meantime, there's plenty of pickings to be had from the unsanitary inhabitants of the 'burb.....