For what it's worth, I offer a few comments that may be of interest to some of your readers who are struggling to assess the value to the community of this sort of development.
It probably depends on where this sort of expenditure ranks on the priority list of council's LTP (Long Term Plan).
In our situation on the East Coast, the rebuilds/restoration of these council-owned facilities are part of Gisborne District Council's LTP to work with East Coast communities to establish an indigenous tourism-based economy for that part of our region.
We are specifically looking for growth in jobs but that will probably depend on the quality of what we have to offer the tourist. The potential for growth in tourism numbers is enormous and that statement is backed up with hard data of visitor numbers collected from a laser counter after completion of the Tolaga Bay wharf restoration project.
We found that approximately 30,000 people (non-locals) walk the Tolaga Bay wharf each year and the numbers are growing as word gets around. We are also pleased to report that, at this time of year, approximately 1000 people a day make the long walk (660 metres one way).
Our aim is to create a number of international-class destinations at various intervals around the coast that will attract tourists from all parts of the globe. Our faith in this vision is well founded, as the visitor numbers continue to grow. However, we have no doubt that sustainability of this type of industry must be built on providing experiences that are iconic.
I suspect that your new viewing platform qualifies in that vein.
Which brings us back to your new development.
I am old enough to remember the Napier 30,000 Club which began much of the work building the Napier foreshore into what it is today.
It is quite remarkable that successive councils have had the mental toughness to adopt the earlier leaders' vision for that heap of stones and turn it into one of Hawkes Bay's most iconic tourism assets.
Fast forward to the current developments, which include the new viewing platform, and it is great to see most of the ideas that will prove their worth over time are based on the desire of most humans to regularly renew their personal association with the sea.
Whether we own a boat or not, it is important to most of us to be able to witness the immense power up close and personal.
That is why the viewing platform will be an outstanding success and will contribute indirectly to the attraction of Marine Parade for future generations of visitors and locals.
C'mon the Bay.
-Clive Bibby lives in Tolaga Bay. He was project manager for both the Tolaga Bay wharf restoration and more recently, the Tokomaru Bay Heritage Site project which will include the restoration/rebuild of the Tokomaru Bay wharf.
-Business and civic leaders, organisers, experts in their field and interest groups can contribute opinions. The views expressed here are the writer's personal opinion and not the newspaper's. Email: editor@hbtoday.co.nz
