Hundertwasser Art Centre and Whangarei District Operating Risks

7.1.1. Attracting Repeat Visitors

There is the need to operate the Hundertwasser Art Centre in a manner that will generate repeat visitors to not only the centre itself, but the Town Basin and the Whangarei district in general. While a number of visitors will come to the Hundertwasser Art Centre and the wider Town Basin to visit the building itself, the regular rotation of paintings and other cultural artefacts is a key aspect to generate repeat admissions to the Hundertwasser Art Centre. There is a need to devise initiatives that encourage repeat visitors to the building, bearing in mind that a lot of visitors will come to view the building itself, instead of the artwork.

7.1.2. Complementary and Competitive Attractions

Given that the Whangarei Art Museum will be relocated in close proximity to the Hundertwasser Art Centre there is a relatively low risk that this could impact on the visitor numbers to the centre. We would recommend that WDC consider possible joint pricing, or a discounted price to visit both art galleries, so that it is a complimentary attraction rather than competition to the Hundertwasser Art Centre. The opening of the Heritage Trail, with sculptures and an art trail only 250 metres from the proposed Hundertwasser Art Centre could also be a

complimentary attraction to visitors. The updated bridge, (only metres from the proposed Hundertwasser Art Centre) with the week-end artisans’ market could also be a complimentary attraction for visitors. This bridge will eventually be part of a 3.6km loop walkway/cycleway at the Town Basin.

In order to generate the greatest benefit to the Whangarei District, WDC need to consider whether there are enough attractions to keep visitors in the region busy for a whole day or longer. Currently many visitors may use Whangarei as a short stopping point on the way further north to the Bay of Islands and beyond. The Hundertwasser Art Centre on its own may become an activity to do once “stopped” on the journey north. Therefore, it needs to be considered how attractions can leverage off of visitors in order to encourage them to stay longer

in the district, and stay overnight. This needs to be part of a larger strategy for the district and will need to consider accommodation requirements etc.

7.1.3. General Town Basin Infrastructure

The Hundertwasser Art Centre is expected to attract a considerably higher level of vehicle and traveller thoroughfare to the Town Basin. With this in mind, and the prospect of other attractions such as the Information Centre and Whangarei Arts Museum relocating to the Town Basin along with other new attractions such as the new Art Park, there is a risk that the current roading and general infrastructure is not adequate to handle an increased level of visitor thoroughfare. The major risks can be categorised into the following areas:

Lack of Suitable Parking and Accessibility

There are currently only a limited number of parks in the Town Basin which achieve high occupancy rates. There is a risk the number of parks available may not accommodate the visitor numbers this report is forecasting to visit the Hundertwasser Art Centre, besides any additional demand for car parking that could be generated from other attractions relocating to the Town Centre during peak seasonal demand. We understand that WDC have considered the availability and occupancy of car parking as part of their Parking Management Strategy 2011. New parking facilities close to the Hundertwasser Art Centre will be available, with a strategy in place to provide for visitors to the area rather than to commuters. Further the wider parking strategy will look to better manage parking in Whangarei without

necessarily providing additional car parking spaces, so that parking is available for visitors, commuters, and residents. In terms of

accessibility, and in considering any future waterfront development, there needs to be consideration around the types of transport arriving and departing, or for hire in the Town Basin. These could include; buses, cars, people movers, camper vans, taxis, shuttle vans, bicycles, motorbikes and scooters. We understand that WDC is is confident worker and visitor parking needs will be met within the new strategy.

Infrastructural Risks within Town Basin and CBD

As outlined in Whangarei’s 20/20 Plus strategy document, there is currently poor street hierarchy and connection in between the general CBD and Town Basin. The current design of the towns inner precincts have been labelled as creating a number of issues, including but not limited to the following:

• Limited community facilities and amenities

• Little after-hours activity and some anti-social behaviour (calling into question the security of the area). We understand that this will be addressed through new security measures to be implemented in the Town Basin and the Hundertwasser Art Centre.

• Realising spatial and pedestrian links to the hills and along the water front

WDC is already addressing the issues raised through its CBD upgrade and concentration on linkage of Town basin and the CBD. A second harbour crossing is due to be opened in 2013, which will remove an expected 10,000 vehicle movements daily from the Town Basin area.

Lack of Quality Accommodation in CBD/Town Basin

There is a risk that the Hundertwasser Art Centre and coincidentally the Whangarei District may never realistically be considered as a suitable conference/convention centre or overnight destination until more attractive accommodation exists in the form of improved accommodation (i.e. a 4 star Hotel). The risk around the current lack of suitable accommodation may not only be limiting the potential of attractions and events such as those of the Hundertwasser Art Centre, but also other attractions throughout the Whangarei District as well.