From major construction in Napier, to retiring HDC ‘godfather’, to Napier wastewater planning, to HB Music Hub news, to impressive sustainability reports from Unison and Pan Pac, here are some announcements of note you might have missed.
Crane kicks off Napier civic construction
A 51-metre-high crane has made its way into Napier’s CBD on five trucks, heralding the start of construction of Napier’s new civic precinct.
The crane can lift 100 tonnes and will be used to remove the precast panels from the former Library Tower structure. It will also lift structural steel for the Tower’s refurbishment, and steel and mass timber for the new library’s construction. Work currently underway is the moving and compacting of construction fill and preparing the terraced ground levels of the site.
Mayor Kirsten Wise says regional economic development is a critical aspect of the project. “This is the beginning of nearly two years’ work for local trades. Nearly ninety per cent of businesses and trades working on the construction will be local, creating jobs and opportunities for many of our small and medium-sized businesses.”
Not everyone is thrilled about this project, given its cost at a time of extreme rates sensitivity. But the die is cast on this one … there’s no turning back and previous public consultation gave the greenlight.
The construction of the entire precinct is on track for completion in mid-2027. And whoever is mayor at that time is sure to be at the ribbon-cutting, with a full complement of councillors and no doubt an MP or two.
HDC ‘godfather of planning’ retires
Mark Clews retired 4 July after more than 40 years in local government, most of them at Hastings District Council, where his influence can be traced through everything from town centre renewal to major zoning decisions, climate resilience work, and multi-generational growth strategies.
HDC says: “In 1985, not long after joining Hastings District Council as a town planner, Mark ran a team workshop on how ‘plastic money’, internet shopping, and working from home might one day reshape the retail sector. At the time, it sounded far-fetched, but 40 years later as he prepares to retire, it reads like a blueprint for the world we now live in.”
Anyone trying to build or develop anything of significance in Hastings will have encountered Mark, sometimes in battle. If there’s anyone in Hastings who knows where all the bodies are buried, it’s Mark!
Town planning presentation (1985) hand drawn by Mark Clews
What to do about Napier wastewater?
With new national environmental standards on the horizon and a comprehensive Wastewater Treatment Review underway, Council is rethinking how it treats and discharges the wastewater it manages from 93% of Napier’s homes and businesses. Community feedback will help guide upgrades, investment and environmental protection for Hawke Bay.
One way to get informed is to visit the Awatoto Wastewater Treatment Plant, not normally opened to the public.
Tour dates:
Tuesday 29 July, 1pm–3pm
Saturday 2 August, 10am–12pm.
Spaces are limited so visit www.sayitnapier.nz/ncc/wastewater-treatment-review/book-a-tour to book a spot.
How disaster proof is the facility? How long should Napier keep pumping its wastewater into Hawke Bay?
Visit www.sayitnapier.nz/ncc/wastewater-treatment-review to learn more about the review and submit your feedback online.
HB Music Hub news
Mentoring sessions for songwriters. Planning underway for the next (5th) local artist vinyl compilation record. Workshop on promoting your music on TikTok. New releases from HB musicians. And more.
Here’s the Hub’s latest newsletter.
HB corporates report on sustainability
Two of the region’s biggest players have released their latest sustainability reports. Both detail impressive efforts to mitigate their environmental footprints, but both also carry sustainability into their ‘people’ and ‘community’ responsibilities.
Unison Group’s first Sustainability Report, titled Our Commitment to a Sustainable Energy Future, presents the Group’s shared direction, sustainability principles, and priority areas – spanning people, community, environmental impact, and network resilience.
Full report here.
Pan Pac has also released a comprehensive sustainability report, its second, titled A Sustainable Future Together. BayBuzz ‘previewed’ the report here.
