That is the question architecture students will be asking Waikouaiti residents as part of an ‘‘exciting’’ project to create a development plan for the area.
Progress of the Waikouaiti Area (Powa) had joined forces with architect Campbell McNeill, a lecturer at Otago Polytechnic and director of architecture consultancy In the Making, to create the plan, the community organisation revealed in its April newsletter.
Fourteen architecture students are involved in the project, speaking to people in the community over the coming months about what should be done and crafting a ‘‘story’’ for the area which will include initiatives and interventions. Ultimately, the community feedback will form part of a strategic plan for Waikouaiti.
A hui will also be held next month to gather views and garner feedback.
Writing in this month’s newsletter, Powa chairwoman Kath Ryan said the development plan was an ‘‘exciting start’’ to the year.
She said the focus would be on ‘‘helping our community to address the wishes and problems that we have already identified in recent Powa surveys and huis, such as the Waikouaiti main street, climate adaptation, emergency resilience, beautification and in our community and will want to talk to as many of us as possible about what we think students to help us with this work is that they are nonjudgemental, free-thinking
infrastructure needs’’. She added: ‘‘To do this, 14 students will be out and about about where we live and what needs to be done. ‘‘The advantage of having and independent. They will listen and use their skills and knowledge to come up with new ideas in addition to the ones we already have.’’
The Powa community hui will take place from 2pm to 4pm on Sunday, May 24 at the East Otago Events Centre.
Individuals and organisations keen to speak to the architecture students can contact Powa community engagement manager Sonya Billyard at community.powa@gmail.com
