Transforming Featherston
Victoria University of Wellington landscape architecture students have been working with the Featherston community and South Wairarapa District Council to transform the town.
Fourth year students spent a week in Featherston in July this year getting to know the town. They met with the community, local iwi, regional and local government and the Department of Conservation, and looked at how infrastructure fits in with other activities in the town.
Course coordinator Bruno Marques says generally new roads, railways, homes, wind farms and industrial areas compete with agriculture, recreation, animals and vegetation. “They are all created without any thought of the overall concept of the town. The students looked at integrating infrastructure in ways that benefit the inhabitants and the landscape”
The student’s designs focus on various aspects of Featherston. These include its proximity to Lake Wairarapa, its military history, cycleway and town centre. They transform Featherston into a tourist destination rather than a gateway to somewhere else.
Featherston Community Board member Katie Beattie says the project has really engaged with the community and has allowed the community to see possibilities they’d never imagined.
Community can vote on their favourite design, the council will then assess the viability of the designs.
They are on show now at the Featherston Anzac Hall until Saturday 15 November.
For more information about the project visit FeatherstonVicUni.