The New Brighton pier — an idea that won’t die, and a society that won’t quit

Press, 30 June 1982, Page 21

The New Brighton pier — an idea that won’t die, and a society that won’t quit

By

STAN DARLING

It was once a great place for promenading and taking the sea air. Anyone who wants to promenade around the old NewBrighton pier now can still do so. but it will be a rubbish tip stroll. Sixteen years after they were unceremoniously torn down, the pier's pilings lie in a heap on Bexley tip land. But that is only the story thus far. For those same 16 years, the New Brighton Pier and Foreshore Promotion Society have wanted another pier. They still do. They are ready to commit half their funds — or about $lO,OOO — to have a design competition for some sort of foreshore complex that they hope could be at least the beginning of a new pier. Peter Dunbar, the NewBrighton pharmacist and former city councillor who helped set up the original “Save the Pier" group and has been the foreshore society's chairman ever since, says that having the long-dormant issue come to a head this way may be a long shot, but society members want to give it a try. “It may appear extravagant to offer half our funds on something which may come to nothing," he says. “Some could have the attitude that we are just throwing our money away. This could be called our final big gesture and effort on the pier. “Whatever happens, the society will carry on with other projects. But we’re prepared to do this once." The spark for this new push was the fire that destroyed the old Shoreline Cabaret early last year. The mess behind the clock tower has been cleared away, and the way is open — at least physically — for something to -happen. "Now that the Shoreline space is empty, it is time to think about how to use it,” Mr Dunbar says. "Any project has to be well planned and publicised. We need an idea that will challenge investors and promoters. “We. want a useful community facility, even if that doesn’t mean a new pier straight away.” Society members think that a commercially-success-ful foreshore complex could earn enough money to pro-

vide funds for a new pier. “A pier still would be immensely popular as a sightseeing feature,” Mr Dunbar adds. “The pier demolition just wouldn't happen today — people wouldn’t allow it. But down it came.” The pier had fallen into disrepair because the owner spent his money on the restaurant side of the structure, and he did not have enough left over for the pier. Mr Dunbar was one who questioned the reasons for razing it: “There was never any doubt about the pier's stability. Some of the decking needed replacing — there were holes where a child's foot could have gone through — but the pier was structurally sound. The City Council said the decking should be renewed to ensure public safety. “It would have cost then about £lO,OOO to do the work requiredfor a public building, licence.” A meeting was convened in 1964 to form the Pier and Foreshore Promotion Society, a group which had about a year to raise the restoration money. A gym-

khana was held, and so were raffles, “but it was a lot of effort for little money. We only got up to £6OO to £7OO before the council ordered it to come down. “It was good solid wood. They had to use bulldozers to wrench out the pilings.” The society had failed to save the pier, but members stayed together, anyway. They have met eight or nine times a year. "We have raised money continually since then, perhaps $40,000.” Mr Dunbar says. “About half has been spent in sparking off projects." A lot of credit should go to society members such as Orme Innes, the secretary, and Jim Read, who has headed the fund-raising in fecent years. Much of this is done in the New Brighton shopping centre on Saturdays. . “We are able to make our offer' only because of the work that people like them have done,” Mr Dunbar says. The society has never had enough money to completely finance community improvements, but it has planted the seed money and the ideas,

and pushed hard for projects such as the foreshore children's playground. "Usually, the society stimulated the City Council to do a better job,” Mr Dunbar says. Lobbying for a crib wall below the foreshore car park north of the shopping centre led to an improved Marine Parade. Along with the Jaycees and the local neighbourhood, the society helped raise money for Thomson Park. Further north, at Broad Park, a new playground promoted by the society was designed and built by the Waimairi District Council. "We had an early beachcleaning programme," Mf Dunbar says. “We couldn't combat the seaweed and other natural stuff as fast as we could clean it up. We also used to sweep the dunes for litter.” Upstream along the Avon River, part of the Cockayne Reserve was landscaped and improved by the council in another project "gingered by the society," he adds. “The old pier’s heyday was in the 1920 s and early 19305, during New Brighton’s holiday heyday," Mr Dunbar says, “before the motorcar was king. To come to New Brighton was the summer holiday — by horse, tram, whatever. "That is one reason why the houses are so close together in part of the town. They were built as a cheap holiday escape. “Brighton in those days used to buzz in the Christmas holidays, and there was a Christmas gala on the pier. "Towards the end, it was a promenading pier. People walked to enjoy the views, the sea breezes, and locals fished for dogfish off the end." At one point. Pier and Foreshore members considered the idea of having a salt-water seaquarium on the foreshore, similar to the one in Napier. “If it * had been able to return 10 per cent on the investment, it would have been viable," Mr. Dunbar says.’"But we found we were , really stymied by the water supply. One million gallons a day ’ were taken from Napier's water, on a shingle beach. “That just won't work on a sand beach. Even with a pipeline 800 yards out — that

would have cost several hundred thousand dollars, anyway — there was no guarantee it would remain secure, because of seabed shifts." Plumping for a new pier, or even the foreshore complex to push the idea along, would be easier if New Brighton were a beach resort. The magnificent string of beaches and sand dunes are local attractions, but they have not attracted enough outside interest. "I think New Brighton’s future is in the future." says Mr Dunbar. "In the past, it was a week-end resort. Then, during the Depression, it was considered a poorly-con-structed area. "The foreshore to Napier is like the banks of the Avon to Christchurch. Our foreshore just hasn't had that eminence yet. But we are getting a different image. If growth doesn’t come in the next decade, it will be by the turn of the century’. “The attitudes of Christchurch people to New Brighton as a recreation area will change." High-rise residential development has not yet happened in the Residential 3A zone designed for it. “but the land agents know it will," Mr Dunbar says. As far as more tourist beach motels are concerned, Christchurch has so many motels in other parts of the city that many people are content to stay there and go to the beach by car. “You’ve got to consider the seasonal aspect.” he says. "There is a freeze in winter, both metaphorically and factually.” Pier and Foreshore members are offering a 55000 prize for the most suitable and practicable design for a pier and/or foreshore facility on the old Shoreline site. They want the City Council to approve such a design competition, and would offer another $5OOO for use in evaluating the winning plan. That money could.also help in feasibility and’ financial studies, and in promotion of the proposal. So far, the council has greeted the idea cautiously, especially since it is not clear who might be an end investor in such a project.

That uncertainty does not bother Mr Dunbar too much: “We need to have someone enthused, to stimulate the minds of people who have travelled. The idea could be challenging enough for anyone to say, 'That's it. let's do that.’ It ’ will need council encouragement. “I would see ground level facilities for beach, users — changing rooms, beach cleaning equipment, a place for shore patrols. ; "Upstairs, there could be some large public facility. It could be a restaurant, a cabaret again, plus what I hope would extend enough to be the beginnings of a pier. An open promenade. "On top, perhaps a third storey with more public tearoom facilities, a deck viewing area, photo booths, telescopes. Perhaps the facility could also have hot saltwater baths. They used to be enormously popular in New Brighton. You could have a spa pool, plunge pool sort of thing. A good deal could be made of that." The design competition proposal is being considered by a City Council parks and recreation sub-icommittee.