Heart of the City: Dee St site earmarked for new 'key attraction'
The Heart of the City column - in partnership with Invercargill Central - puts a focus on inner city Invercargill and reaffirms the area's status as the heart of the city.
Heart of the City is brought to you in partnership with Invercargill Central. Visit invercargillcentral.nz for more info about on what’s on offer.
The Invercargill City Council has identified 66 Dee St a site for a possible new attraction as part of a $4.9m city centre play project.
The council is set to consult the public on its urban play development which would include the new “vibrant, centrally-located play site designed to be a key attraction in the city”.
“The preference is for an innovative playable and multifunctional space that caters to various age groups and abilities to serve as a focal point for community gatherings, events, and daily recreation,” Local Play Advocate Dr Damian Puddle says.
Puddle suggests the play hub would encourage extended visits to Invercargill’s city centre.
The 66 Dee St site - next to the Invercargill Public Library - has been vacant for 10 years since it was purchased by the council.
The council’s original intent for that site was to support potential library archive expansion requirements.
The site’s 618m² footprint is smaller than a feasibility report’s recommended 2500m² for the new play hub. Although some small additional space connecting to and behind the library could be utilised.
There are some safety concerns with the adjacent Hubbers Emporium building wall currently propped with supports.
“Despite these challenges, its proximity to the library, public toilets, and potential for future activation of Pork Pie Lane make it a valuable location for consideration,” Puddle’s report says.
As part of the wider city centre play project a “play trail” has been suggested which would provide a “pathway of playable assets” connecting the main play hub at 66 Dee St to other areas of the city centre to encourage people to explore the inner city.
The project is aligned with the council's vision of “He Ngākau Aroha – Our City with Heart”.
It has also stemmed from a City Centre Master Plan guiding principle; “urban play to make you stay”.
$4.956 million has already been budgeted in the council’s 2024-2034 Long-Term Plan for the urban play project.
The are two options that staff have recommended to get public feedback on.
One option is for the full $4.956 million urban play programme to be carried out (plus $1.5 million external funding).
The other option is to distribute the $4.9m budget across multiple play projects in Invercargill and Bluff.
That option would mean a scaled-down city centre play development.
The urban play development public consultation will take place in March and April and will be part of the 2025-2026 Annual Plan consultation process.
Dr Damian Puddle’s report on the matter will be discussed at a council meeting on Tuesday.
Esk Fest Waitangi Day treat…
It was great day in the “Heart of the City” on Thursday for Esk Fest. Well done to the team at Radio Southland for putting on such a great Waitangi Day event for Invercargill.
Can you spot yourself in our video from the day?
Dine at Esk Eats at Invercargill Central with options for all taste buds and hunger levels. From grab and go sushi, hunger busting burgers or a slice or two, a warming ramen, curry or classic street food, finishing with something sweet. Esk Eats has you covered.
Option 1 = make a great asset for the city like a Margret Mahi playground - with things for kids and adults to do :)
Hold up!
The biggest argument they had to getting rid of Wacnher Place and putting a road though it was that it couldn’t be the heart of the city as it’s too dangerous being on the state highway, so now they want to go four buildings up and “develop”that to “the heart of the city” and have a play hub there?!?!
Why couldn’t they have used what we already had, updated and upgraded that a little instead of starting again? Is this just a mayor trying to make a name for himself and build some kind of legacy project because he doesn’t need to, he won’t be forgotten fast.