In the August STAR we reported that professional fundraiser and planner Steve Bramley had been employed by the SWDC to scope and evaluate a broadened concept of developing the Town Hall precinct into a multipurpose community centre around the Town Hall. A significant part of the research was to engage with the many community groups who have an interest in the Town Hall and ask what they imagined Martinborough and the Town Hall could be like in 30 years. In August Steve and his team began gathering information.
They began by presenting an amalgam of work that had already been done on concept development and extended this by adding in the most popular brainstorming ideas gathered from a community meeting run by the MTHWG earlier this year. As a first cut this concept was as exciting as it was challenging.
Steve showed his team’s ideas to more than 17 groups and individuals. The groups were diverse and included organisations external to the Martinborough community who have an interest in the future of the Hall. Those external to Martinborough included Destination Wairarapa and the Aratoi Foundation whilst among the Martinborough groups were Plunket, Martinborough School, Toast Martinborough and MADCAPS. A complete consultation list will be published with Steve’s final report.
Looking back 30 years whoever thought that Martinborough would be the leading producer of premium Pinot Noir in New Zealand and similarly, have the reputation for the best wine and food festival. Tourism and retail businesses have been built on the back of the wine industry. This industry has significantly helped avert the economic basket case that Martinborough could have become because of the declining farming sector at the time the first vines were planted.
So what of the next 30 years? Information gathering is by no means completed. However even from this early consultation themes are emerging suggesting that the future of Martinborough will be about families. Catering for those who already live here while attracting others to make Martinborough their home and establish businesses or commute to work in other centres. A multipurpose community centre would be one way of bringing families from both groups together, assist integration into the community and lessen the isolation that can often occur for folks new to an area.
Martinborough is ready for another catalyst to bring more people to live here and increase its rating and economic base. The Town Hall development could well contribute to this by becoming a vibrant family friendly community centre.
Steve and team will be presenting another draft concept plan using information gathered from the initial consultation process to the MTHWG on Friday 30 August. Will keep you posted!
Winifred Bull MTHWG
