A1 - Strategic Direction for Waitohi-Picton

This submission by Picton Business Group is one of six regarding the economic wellbeing of Waitohi-Picton, for the benefit of residents, businesses and visitor experience, with a flow-on benefit to the wider Marlborough community. Please refer to our submission ‘A1 – A strategic direction for Waitohi-Picton’ for the context of this and all submissions.

The submissions this year relate to:

A.  Long-term Direction - A strategic vision for Waitohi-Picton based on the development of a Strategic Plan and a parallel Brand Positioning will clearly show where the investment is required in Waitohi-Picton alongside other towns in Marlborough and the subsequent benefit gained. 

1. Strategic Direction for Waitohi-Picton
2. Investment Strategy for Waitohi-Picton

B. Infrastructure and Facilities – There are immediate and medium- term improvements required to Waitohi-Picton that are either emerging or have been on the MDC roadmap for a number of years and need to be addressed urgently, now.

3. Whale Trail, Lower High Street & Bike Parking
4. Nelson Square and Truck Parking

C. Presentation and Growth – Much talk surrounding Picton centres on the key metrics of attracting visitors and extending their stay. In order to achieve that we must present Waitohi-Picton at its best and ensure we leverage our natural, historical and cultural assets to their greatest potential.

5. Waitohi-Picton Town Centre Beautification
6. Public / Private collaboration for the growth of Waitohi-Picton

Picton Business Group submission A1 – Strategic Direction for Waitohi-Picton

Picton Business Group urgently request Marlborough District Council initiate work on creating a strategy for Waitohi-Picton with allocated budget and an assigned project leader.

History:

Various prior studies have been commissioned by the MDC including the Growing Marlborough Urbanism Plus consultation work and subsequent strategies (2010) and the Picton Redevelopment Planning work / consultation of 2021. As reference there are the Marlborough District Council Growing Marlborough documents:

1. Blenheim - Town Centre Report, A Vision for the Future Strategy – Growing Marlborough
2. 4.1 A Vision for Picton – Growing Marlborough 2010
3. 4.1 Picton - Improve the vitality of the town centre strategy, part 2 – Growing Marlborough
4. Picton Redevelopment Consultation & Plan 2021

Current:

Now in 2025 with Blenheim’s Growing Marlborough Strategy fully formed and accomplished over the last 14 years and our region’s economic growth (GDP) exhibiting quarterly decline, we respectfully suggest that to not focus on and enhance assets such as Picton, to bring increased economic vitality into Marlborough, would be short sighted, in terms of Marlborough’s future economic vitality.

We understand the current financial situation and are realistic about the scarcity of resources, but we strongly believe that now is the time to initiate strategy work for Waitohi-Picton.

Waitohi-Picton community and businesses have been under-recognised and represented with multitudes of requests and ideas being investigated, analysed, planned and shelved. Reviewing these ideas in isolation, it is easy to miss how they add value not just as a potential commercial contribution in their own right but to the greater good for Picton and Marlborough.

We appreciate the value that the London Quay redevelopment has added to the Waterfront precinct, however was it designed in light of the Whale Trail and the Waterfront integration? The redevelopment of SH1 will efficiently move all traffic from the ferry’s out of Picton without addressing the commercial and community impact or the alternatives.

Functional design and deployment, although important, will always be short term thinking requiring redesign and expensive rework if it does not also include the other key Strategic Pillars of Environment, Culture, Commerce and Community.

Additionally, the development, and integration, of the Town Precincts – Waterfront, CBD, Industrial, and Mountains – provides unique purposes that need to be included and integrated. These can be addressed organically with quick wins as opposed to ‘Big Bang’, but only if they are viewed within a strategic vision and architecture.

The creation of the strategic plan will only bring about half the benefit if not accompanied by an implementable brand and identity strategy. This will challenge the plan, validate the values and cultural imperatives and develop a platform for communication to activate the value to be gained.

Getting benefit from high impact initiatives takes time. We must start now to realise short, medium and long term goals.

We want to work with the council via the continuation of our working partnership and are keen to discuss this matter further along with our other five submissions.

About the Submitter:

Picton Business Group represents members from the business community in the wider Waitohi-Picton area, from Koromiko through to Waikawa, and Totaranui-Queen Charlotte Sound; with membership across commercial, industrial, retail, tourism, arts & culture and maritime sectors. With their support we lead and advocate for Waitohi-Picton to be a well-planned, appealing and sustainable business environment, empowering existing and new businesses to reach their potential with confidence.