The "masterplan" proposal for the area, prepared by Damien van Brandenburg of Architecture Van Brandenburg, has focused on the edges of the basin to avoid any conflict with surrounding industrial businesses.
Previous waterfront developments have been opposed by some businesses on the basis they would threaten industry in the area.
Speaking yesterday, Farra Engineering chief executive John Whitaker said the details would be important but his first impressions were largely positive.
Mr Whitaker had been given a "heads up" on Friday something would be coming out about the proposal, but he had no involvement with it.
Industrial and commercial areas were not always "easy bedfellows" but he was pleased the proposal focused on the edges of the basin.
"Providing they protect the industrial place, it’s progress and we’ve got to face up to it, really."
As the plans progressed, Mr Whitaker hoped surrounding businesses would be included in any discussions.
Ultimately the waterfront area was going to be developed as it was in the best interests of the city.
But not everyone shared Mr Whitaker’s positive view. Asmuss Steel Dunedin branch manager Paula Cooper said it would be hard for the plan’s proponents and existing industries to work side by side.
The proposal came as a surprise and Mrs Cooper thought business owners in the area should have been told about it before it was released.
To try to beautify an area so close to industrial buildings would be a hard task.
"This isn’t just me being stubborn, but how can you beautify something when you have big warehouses right outside the window?"
Leith Joinery owner Peter Leith said he did not expect the entire plan would ever be completed, but he was not opposed to the proposal.
"I’ve been here a long time and seen a few things come and go, so I’m not expecting much to happen within 30 years, apart from a bit of tidying up which the area does need."
There was no reason the redevelopment could not co-exist with the surrounding businesses, but some would have to move, Mr Leith said.
Animation Research Ltd chief executive Ian Taylor, who was involved in the plan’s development, said most of the feedback he had received had been positive.
There had been no specific contact with the surrounding businesses but everyone needed to be involved in the project, Mr Taylor said.
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Comments
I think this looks pretty cool and seems very radical for Dunners but do you know what puts me off any significant development of this area? The weather, on how many days a year would people actually be able to enjoy a space like this given the cold windy microclimate that exists there.
There seems to be an assumption from everyone that is involved in this concept proposal, that the existing industrial businesses won't ever need to expand themselves in the area. Many of these businesses started from small beginnings and have grown over the years; if they need to continue to grow further in the future, where do they go?
These businesses employ a hell of a lot of staff and if they are unable to expand in their immediate area and are forced to shift, there is no guarantee they will shift to another site within Dunedin.