Resident: Mrs Wachner would be devastated by plan
“I think we should show respect to those two ladies [Wachner, Poole] and keep Wachner Place the way it is, but do it up.”
An Invercargill resident says Mabel Wachner would be devastated the city council is considering demolishing Wachner Place to possibly allow bus access through it.
The Invercargill City Council has been taking feedback on what to do with Wachner Place, and particularly how it can tie in with the new Distinction Hotel being developed at the old Menzies Building.
The council’s preferred option is to open Wachner Place up and allow bus access through from Dee St to Leven St. It was previously a street before Wachner Place was constructed in the late 1980s.
There has also been a “people first” option floated with bus access from Leven St, and the third option with tour bus access to the rear of hotel.
At a public meeting on Tuesday Invercargill resident Lindsay Frewen called on some respect be shown to Mabel Wachner and the area, rather than have it opened up to buses.
The late Mabel Wachner was the wife of former Invercargill mayor Abraham Wachner. She donated parcels of land to the city council which led to the development of Wachner Place.
Wachner Place was opened by then Invercargill Mayor Even Poole in 1989.
Frewen was part of a group involved with organising a New Year’s gathering at Wachner Place at the millennium.
At the time Mrs Wachner was 103 and Frewen recalls meeting her when they picked her up from the nursing home and brought her to Wachner Place.
“She was wrapped, she thanked us.
“Mrs Wachner, she would be devastated [with the bus proposal],” Frewen said.
Frewen said he has seen a video from when Eve Poole opened Wachner Place in 1989 where she talked with excitement of the prospect of public gathering and enjoying Wachner Place.
“If Mrs Poole was alive today, and still the mayor, you would have to be brain dead, or brave, to come into Mayor Poole’s office and suggest to her to remove the clock and put in a bus lane.”
“She would take a deep breath, she would hit the roof, she would have the person’s guts for garters and order him out of the building.”
Frewen agreed Wachner Place was “tired” and needed a “makeover” but he disagreed with the idea of opening it up to buses.
“I think we should show respect to those two ladies [Wachner and Poole] and keep Wachner Place the way it is but do it up.”
Mayor Nobby Clark has publicly supported largely removing Wachner Place and allowing bus access through to the new hotel.
At Tuesday’s submissions hearing, Clark said the council has canvassed the youth of the city who want areas for music or street parties.
Clark said that has been part of the dream in doing up Don St and Esk St.
“Regardless of if there is a bus going through [Wachner Place] or not, because that is a really contentious issue, what would you do to Wachner to put some life back into it, other than it just being a memorial for Mrs Wachner?”
Frewen responded: “I would suggest to rethink the outlay of Wachner Place from the stage forward, remove all of that stuff, and get some design and make it a place for people to meet. Update it.”
Former Invercargill city councillor Thelma Buck also spoke at the public submissions hearing where she also had concerns about what the proposed plans meant for Mrs Wachner’s gift to the city.
“Someone has decided [Mrs Wachner’s] place needs to go, which is very poor. We could work on Wachner Place and do a lot with it,” Buck said.
“I don’t want to see Mrs Wachner, with no family and nobody here to support her now, her donation to go to nowhere.”
Buck made a plea to Mayor Clark on the matter.
“Nobby, I’m expecting you to look after Mrs [Wachner’s] and Eve Poole’s wishes and leave it there. And maybe we could do some private fundraising and finish it off properly.
“Please do not let it go down, it would be a real shame.”
The council is expected to decide next month as to what they will do with Wachner Place and Esk St West access.
I’ve said it a 100 times, lack of upkeep has made it tired, it needs a good spruce up . Just like the council .
I agree keep Wachner Place, the clock is visible for quite a distance and is a great wind break in that area. I like many others was also unaware of it being a memorial to the contribution of the Wachner Family's contribution to Invercargill.