Mayor Richard Kempthorne has responded to critics of the Shed 4 development at Mapua wharf saying the investment Tasman District Council has made is of immense importance to the district and will have benefits far beyond the immediate tenants and Mapua community.
“Following the devastating loss of the aquarium at the Mapua wharf in 2011 in a fire, council and the community agreed that a replacement building on this site was important for the waterfront precinct and for the residents of Mapua,” he says.
“Those critical of council’s investment in the project overlook the stark reality that without the council’s leadership on this we’d still be looking at burnt remains. I would counter the critics by saying Shed 4 directly supports council’s responsibility to foster an environment where people want to live, work and play and aligns with both the vision and mission statements of council’s long term plan.
“The Mapua Wharf has become a thriving hub that is a visitor magnet for the whole Nelson-Tasman region. The feedback I have received has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Shed 4 has brought new businesses into the wharf which have complimented those already established and has helped make Mapua one of the must visit places in Tasman.”
Rimu Wine Bar owner Patrick Stowe says the council’s design for the precinct, and the resulting visitor numbers to the wharf, had exceeded expectations.
“The Shed 4 design has enhanced the wharf enormously and the visitors and locals we talk to are blown away by what council has brought to the area,” he says. “This is the go-to entertainment precinct for the region and it provides a quality experience for everyone from families on a budget to wealthy international tourists that they simply can’t get anywhere else.
“This development demonstrates council’s commitment to building thriving communities and I think they should be congratulated for their foresight. As a local I’m delighted and as a business owner I look forward to making Shed 4 a place people don’t want to miss.”
Phil Grover, a member of the council’s commercial sub-committee says that the council had created a marvellous community asset in an iconic part of Tasman District.
“Its unique location made for a challenging build,” he says, “but the finished project is already providing solid financial returns for ratepayers.”
Mayor Kempthorne says: “Rates increases are a constant challenge in our community and have led me and Council to look for opportunities to raise income that offsets those increases.”
“This was the thinking behind council’s decision to invest in Shed 4. The reality is that council’s commercial property, including this development at the Mapua wharf, will generate a cash trading surplus of $282,000 in 2016. This profit is used to offset rates, meaning ratepayers pay less rates than they would without these investments.”
Debbie Lavery from Jellyfish Café and Bar comments, “From our perspective the Mapua Wharf area is an absolute destination. The recent efforts have improved the overall picture substantially, and we have received nothing but positive feedback from our customers, who repeatedly return to enjoy the views, the culinary delights, the fine wines and ambience the region has to offer.
“Mapua is a popular destination that is improving all the time,” she said, “and we are proud to be a part of such a great place.”
