The heart of Whangarei's Cameron St Mall could be covered with the same material as the Beijing National Aquatic Centre or the world's largest eco-conservatory, The Eden Project in Britain, if plans for two canopies go ahead as part of a $2.67 million CBD facelift.
The initial design concept was discussed at yesterday's Whangarei District Council's 20/20 Inner City Revitalisation Committee, and is set to go before the full council for a decision. The project is due to go out for tender this month and could see Whangarei get a new paved pedestrian laneway from Cameron St through to James St, with two 13m-high canopies overhead.
The canopies would be made of ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene), a transparent polymer which also covers the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin. Plans for the mall revamp have been rolling for four years and have been through three rounds of consultation, said committee chairman, Councillor Phil Halse.
He said the mall was opened in 1997 but had not been updated since.
"Money has been set aside in the annual plan, but we held off as the design was fluid."