Lyttleton: Light At The End Of The Tunnel | Stuff.co.nz

DON SCOTT/Fairfax NZ

FUTURE FOCUSED: Lottie Harris, Project Lyttelton general manager, left, and Wendy Everingham, chair of the Lyttelton Information Centre, in London St.

More than two years ago the February 2011 earthquake severely damaged a third of the buildings on London St and affected about 50 businesses in the town centre, with 185 staff in retail, accommodation and food services.

Lyttelton Port suffered significant infrastructure damage. The cruise ship season was cut short in 2011 and since then nearly all 80-plus cruise ships that visit this region each year have berthed in Akaroa, and will do so again this season.

Lyttelton desperately needs the cruise ships to return to the harbour to get businesses back on their feet, locals say.

But in the absence of those hundreds of thousands of cruise ship visitors, the town's 3000 residents, through Project Lyttelton, the Lyttelton Harbour Information Centre and the Lyttelton Harbour Business Association (LHBA), have put their energies into projects to draw people back to the town.

Together they have revitalised the Lyttelton Farmers' Market, now a weekly heartbeat for the town, provided detailed submissions on the Christchurch City Council's Master Plan for Lyttelton, and are lobbying for a review of the District Plan design rules to enable development in the town centre.

Wendy Everingham of the Lyttelton Harbour Information Centre said the farmers' market had been a major catalyst for attracting people back to Lyttelton.

"It feels like we've definitely turned the corner. But we desperately need those cruise ships back."

While visitor numbers had been slowly increasing, there was still a long way to go to get back to pre-quake levels.

"There used to be thousands of people coming through on the ships so it is really critical to our township's recovery that we get those cruise ships back."

Now, about 20 to 30 foreigners visited the Information Centre per day, compared with 80 to 90 before the quakes - and that was on a non-cruise ship day.

The number of Christchurch visitors was increasing as people overcame their fear of driving through the Lyttelton tunnel, Everingham said. The Saturday farmers' market was drawing them back, and the annual Festival of Lights in June was expected to attract a large turnout again this year. And nearly all the shops on London St were tenanted now.

The Lyttelton Farmers Market, run by Project Lyttelton, was forced to move to a much smaller site on school grounds after the quake and the number of vendors shrank to about 20, as many had lost premises or commercial kitchens.

Visitor numbers fell to less than half the former levels becausepeople were afraid to drive through the tunnel and other farmers markets had sprung up in areas like Mount Pleasant immediately after the quake, Project Lyttelton general manager Lottie Harris said.

However since the market moved to London St in November last year, it has started growing again. It has 41 stalls and space to welcome more. Visitor numbers were up significantly.

The market received about $12,000 from business recovery organisation Recover Canterbury which had helped pay for street signage, infrastructure and marketing.

Events planned for the year include the Midwinter Christmas Market as part of the Festival of Lights, to be held from June 20 to June 23, and a special market birthday celebration in September.

However, revenues for those businesses that had continued to operate remain lower, due to fewer visitors, fewer local residents due to property damage, businesses closing or relocating and the loss of the cruise ships, former Recover Canterbury workgroup co-ordinator Sonia Prince said.

Many buildings had been demolished and confidence in rebuilding or redevelopment happening soon was low, she said.

Bells Pharmacy, where staff donned hard hats and hi-vis vests to reopen the pharmacy on February 23, 2011, so customers could get essential medicines, is now trading from temporary premises in London St which it shares with solicitor Ray Blake, of Mactodd Solicitors, its original building having been demolished.

Bells Pharmacy director John Thrupp said the business had not yet fully recovered. It had fewer customers as some residents had left town while they waited for their homes to be repaired and many businesses had also moved away.

However things were "starting to move in the right direction" and he was hopeful business would pick up in the next two or three years.

Ray Blake said there was still little to no night life in Lyttelton, with many of the pubs - except the Mitre on the corner of Canterbury St and Norwich Quay - having come down.

Finding premises was still a challenge for many businesses. Blake himself set up office in a garage within days after the February quake, until moving in with Bells Pharmacy at 50 London St.

"Businesses keen to open or re-open don't have premises and so, as per the rest of the city, they locate out of the village or city altogether."

Several retailers and restaurants have opened, including Himalaya, Portico, Rule Britannia, Freemans Restaurant and Tommy Changs. The BNZ, having spent two winters in a portable building, has moved into new premises next door to St John.

But for the most part, even if someone was willing to take the plunge, nothing new was coming on stream, Blake said.

"It's a challenge for developers, Catch 22; tenants [are] needed to get a build underway but tenants won't sign up without knowing what the dreaded insurance premium and excess costs will be."

Progress would take some time, he predicted. "We see the Draft Plan as a priority planning tool without which, developers won't build and so, businesses will not open and flourish."

However the community spirit was as strong as the free coffee served by the Lyttelton Coffee Co from a makeshift bar outside the library, for days after the earthquake.

LHBA membership numbers have actually increased since the earthquakes. The association made a detailed submission to council on the Master Plan for the village and the new civic area, Albion Square.

It is lobbying for changes to the District Plan to encourage development in the town centre, and has thrown its weight behind the annual Festival of Lights.

It also continues to work with Project Lyttelton and the Lyttelton Harbour Information Centre to encourage visitors from Christchurch to travel through the tunnel.

LYTTELTON

Major blows: loss of cruise ships; loss of visitors from Christchurch Short-term goals: Create a desirable brand Revitalise the central business area for economic stimulation, investment and employment opportunities Incentivise customers or locals to support local businesses through promotions or events Attract a diverse range of people through activities and events catering to different market sectors Results: Relocation of the Lyttelton Farmers' Market and an increase in visitor numbers on Saturdays Increased retail activity from the businesses along Main St and stallholders of up to 20 per cent

- ? Fairfax NZ News

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/small-business/8748144/Lyttelton-locals-work-to-revive-town

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