Media Statement Sunday 4 March 2001

Released by: Pat Goosey President New Brighton District Business Association

Business Association Confirms Financial Support For Upgrading New Brighton Mall

The New Brighton District Business Association has confirmed with the Christchurch City Council their financial commitment towards a major redevelopment plan for the commercial areas of New Brighton Mall.

Pat Goosey President New Brighton District Business Association said, "Council have challenged us to put our money were our mouths are and fund a portion of the redevelopment costs."

"We surveyed the rateable properties in the mall and received overwhelming support for a Special Rate of $610-000 to be struck, which will go towards the total budget for the project."

Total budget for the project is expected to be around $1.8million and will include the reinstatement of a partial slow road through the mall, upgrade of parking, lighting, paving, pedestrian areas and significant landscaping throughout the area.

Pat Goosey said, " He understood the Council would sign off on the Special Rate this Tuesday and hoped they would also agree to fund the balance of the capital cost for the project out of the Councils own budgets."

"The time for any further debate on the this project proceeding must now end."

"No one could argue that New Brighton has suffered over the years due to a lack of investment, and a drift of customers to the new and brighter shopping malls which now dominate the retail scene." "Investment has been hard to attract to New Brighton as investors and professional retailers see pedestrian malls as being counter productive to attracting shoppers, as witnessed by the small number of pedestrian malls in New Zealand ,Australia and America that haven't had traffic re introduced."

"The New Brighton District Business Association has made a major commitment to underwrite this project, the decision is now left in the hands of our elected members, we hope they will not hesitate in doing the same."Pat Goosey said.

End.

For Further Information:

Pat Goosey

President New Brighton District Business Association

PH 03- 388-0740

Cell 025 652-8901

Or..

Roger Hunt

Executive New Brighton District Business Association

Ph 03-388-9546 wk

Ph 03-312-6764 ah

© Scoop Media