Castlecliff worth the investment, residents say

Rangiora St - Castlecliff's new gateway to the beach. Photo/ Bevan Conley

Castlecliff organisations have thrown their weight behind the Castlecliff Rejuvenation Project and urged the Whanganui District Council to continue to support it.

A petition carrying about 1500 signatures was presented to council at annual plan submissions this week and representatives from the community spoke to councillors to demonstrate the change that has occurred in the suburb over the past year.

Castlecliff School principal Katherine Ellery urged the council for continued financial support for the suburb.

"It's a chance for a worthwhile and successful project to continue it's impact on one of Whanganui's forgotten suburbs," she said.

As principal she was witness to a "substantial turn around in the wellbeing of the community" since the project got underway.

"And the residents of Castlecliff are repaying investment in their suburb with increased participation in community matters."

Des Warahi, on behalf of the school and Matipo Community Development Trust, said the turn around had been a long time coming.

"I think the people of Castlecliff have always been passionate about their community it was just about getting something that was going to fire us up."

Wayne "Chopper" Temoananui, also from the trust, said the approach taken by the Castlecliff Rejuvenation was inclusive and that was why it was working.

"You can do everything good, but if you leave a certain group over in a corner, that group is going to come back and bite you," he said.

"We are coming together, and that's the important thing. We're not looking at the money. What we're looking at is the hearts of the people."

Charlotte Melser said she had seen the suburb transform from the vantage point of her new cafe on Rangiora St, The Citadel.

"The second weekend that The Citadel opened there was this sudden shift in stigma that had been lurking around Castlecliff for decades. It was magic, actually.

"It hasn't stopped and it's been snowballing. It's not just about my business, it's about the beach and it's about the community in general."