Wharf St users like pedestrian-only idea

Wharf St's Spuntino Italian Pizzeria and Mediterranean Cafe owner Cath McDermott.

An "eat street" rebranding will increase foot traffic on Wharf St and encourage businesses in the area to work together, retailers say.

The future of Wharf St's bottom block was outlined to Tauranga City councillors earlier this week by Mainstreet Tauranga spokeswoman Sally Cooke.

Ms Cooke said Mainstreet wanted to close the street for key events like the Jazz Festival. The plan could ultimately see Wharf St closed to traffic or become one-way.

Wharf St's Spuntino Italian Pizzeria and Mediterranean Cafe owner Cath McDermott said the idea gave all the businesses along Wharf St the opportunity to pull together as a street.

"People will feel more comfortable to walk up the street with no cars."

Mrs McDermott said there would still need to be a way for trucks to access the street for deliveries.

Wharf St Curry Hut owner and operator Sunil Kumar said he saw how well the "eat street" idea worked in Rotorua after running a similar restaurant there for four years.

"I have seen the difference it can make to a CBD.

"It brings more people to the area."

Mr Kumar said the plan would also attract more punters into the area.

"You could also include signage including the history of Tauranga and what else there is to do in the city along the area too," he said.

Levi Phillips, Curiosity owner, said the potential road closure would still be good for his business.

"I will still get my regulars so hopefully I will pick up a few extras on top of it. It's good for the street, it's good for town. We need more things like that in Tauranga."

Geoff Brown, Wingate+Farquhar Architects & Interior Designers architectural designer, said the idea to make the street an "eat street" was an interesting one.

"The street is fairly congested at the best of times."

Peet Jewellers owner Harry van Heerden said swapping the street to pedestrian-only use was a good idea.

"It could become a real destination in Tauranga," he said.

Mainstreet hoped to start trialling the format in the next few weeks.

Full closure of the street to traffic would depend on how the changes worked.

The "eat street" rebranding was part of a package of new promotional initiatives under way by Mainstreet that included an art precinct around Wharf St and Willow St and a "fashion destination" theme for Devonport Rd, Red Square and Grey St.