On 1st December Council hosted an exciting, interactive workshop to explore views, ideas and opinions on the future of the centre of Pokeno with local interested parties.
The workshop was extremely successful and we were pleased to have a good representation from the Pokeno community along with a number of Franklin District Councillors and Community Board representatives.
The workshop entailed two key group exercises. The first was a brainstorm session to articulate a vision for the centre of Pokeno as it expands and develops into the future. The key questions asked to get discussion flowing were “where is Pokeno centre at now?” and “what would we like it to become?”. The common elements from each group have been identified and form the basis of a strong vision to drive the coordinated growth and development of Pokeno and will ensure it retains its special and unique character. This vision is set out on the following page.
The second part of the workshop was a small group interactive planning and design session. Each group was provided with a kit of material including a large base board with an aerial photograph of the town centre, along with an envelope of cut out pieces representing all the elements that make up a successful town. These included pieces representing open spaces, commercial, retail and industrial land, residential lots of a range of sizes, mixed use development, community facilities as well as roads, truck routes, pedestrian and cycle routes and historical and cultural features.
Participants were highly engaged in this planning and design session with some common themes evident among all groups. A number of interesting and innovative concepts were also tabled and will be considered as part of a more detailed evaluation of the concept designs.
The high level of active participation and engagement at the workshop, and the interest in receiving information from those who could not attend the session, is an important part of the process to look at how Pokeno might grow and develop over the next 20 years.
The input from the workshop will provide us with invaluable direction to ensure we are able to develop a vision and concept plan for a town centre of which you will feel proud.
We are currently completing a comprehensive review of the design concepts developed by the workshop groups and will provide feedback on these in the New Year.