luganville beautification design brief

8/10/2019 Luganville Beautification Design Brief

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D e s i g n B r i e f f o r t h e

Beautification of LuganvilleN o v e m b e r

2 0 1 4


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Design Brief| Nov 20142

Introduction 41.1 Project Inception and Overview 4

1.2 Rationale for Beautification Strategy 4

Research 52.1 Historic Review 5

2.2 Site Assessment 6

2.3 Opportunities & Constraints 9

Schematic Plans 123.1 Project Vision 12

3.2 Key Areas of Development 14

3.3 Design Guidelines 21

Implementation 244.1 Funding Opportunities 24

Conclusion 24

This Beautification Design Brief was created,

in part, at the request of the Vanuatu Depart-ment of Tourism to satisfy requirements ofthe Vanuatu Strategic Tourism Action Plan2014-2018.

It was prepared by the Luganville Beautifica-tion Taskforce through consultation with vari-ous sectors of the community.


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Introduction1.1 Project Inception and Overview

In 2012, Luganville established the BeautificationCommittee, chaired by Ian Mano.In 2014, acting townclerk Andrew Ala appointed Rex Issarcher to chair theBeautification ask Force of Luganville with the pur-pose of forcing action on this i ssue.

Te stated purposes of the ask Force were:

a. o carry out awareness of beautification in Luganvilleb. o identify areas in Luganville to be beautifiedc. o coordinate local business and stakeholders inbeautification projects, planning and implementation

throughout the municipal area

During early stakeholder meetings, it was decidedthat the ask Force needed a town beautification planto make clear the findings of this body. Later a designbrief was deemed more appropriate, as the necessaryexpertise is not available.

During this time it came to light that Luganville hasthe opportunity to benefit from large-scale aid projectsfunded by New Zealand and other donors. In 2013,New Zealand Aid Programme led a forum in Port Vila

consisting of the countrys tourism industry leaders todraft the Vanuatu Strategic ourism Action Plan 2014-2018. Te main purpose of this document is to priori-tize large-scale projects in Vanuatu. Tose representingVanuatu at the meeting were asked to create a list of the10 most important projects in the country. After muchdeliberation they arrived at 14. Of these 14 projects,

the first two are located in Luganville.Beyond this opportunity, the Municipal would

like to engage in more public private partnerships to

achieve some of this brief s recommendations. Tisapproach has worked in Luganville previously, as whenthe city and businesses worked together to create walk-

ways throughout the town. However, there also appearsto be a weariness among some business owners to thisapproach, so any such init iative would need carefulplanning to avoid skepticism.

In part, this report is concerned with satisfying therequirement of a own Beautification Plan listed in 3.2.

As requested by the Department of ourism, this de-sign brief presents our priorities in beautifying Lugan-

ville. o support these prioritizations, we have outlinedapproaches to increasing Luganvilles tourism potentialthrough small-scale and large-scale beautification andexplore the opportunities and challenges present in thisventure. It is the first step towards writing a full ownBeautification Plan, to be completed with professionalaid requested later in this document..

1.2 Rationale for Beautification Strategy

Luganville is Vanuatus second largest city. With acurrent population of 13,000, a World Bank Reportpredicts a population of 25,000 by 2020. Te city isalso an important tourist destination within the coun-try, especially with cruise ships.

Cruise ship tourism is growing throughout theSouth Pacific and Luganville has a unique opportunityto capture a large part of this market growth over thenext 5 to 10 years if it is able to become a functionalalternative to Vila, according to the Assessment of the

Economic Impact of Cruise Ships to Vanuatu, a reportreleased in joint effort by Australian Aid and Carnival

Australia. Reaching this goal is possible with upgradesto NISCOL Wharf, which will allow for multiple shipsto moor simultaneously. As of this time, we have beenthat told the Chinese Government has agreed to fundthe improvements to NISCOL Wharf and that con-

Action Priority Agencies Budget KPI

3.1 Upgradethe Luganville

tourist wharf &facilities

High

2014

MIPU 1.5b

vatu

Wharfand

facilitiesupgraded

3.2 Implementthe town beau-tification planfor Luganville

Low2015

MIPU,LMC,DLA

1.5bvatu

Luganvilleown

Beauti-fication

completed

From Strategic Tourism Action Plan 2014-2018:


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Design BriefNov 2014 | 5

struction should begin by the early part of 2015.Te municipal must invest to make the city a friendlier environ-

ment for the increasing number of residents and tourists if Luganvilleis to truly capitalize on this opportunity for increased access to tour-ism dollars. By beautifying the city, the municipal can expect to see

indirect and direct benefits to the small business people of Luganville.owards this goal we intend to activate dormant districts of townand improve existing areas to create an easily-approachable experi-ence for cruise ship tourists while making the city more inviting to itsresidents.

Research2.1 Historic Review

Luganville began as a settlement of Societe Francaise recruits andwas named in 1889 after Captain Lugan, commanding officer of theMessageries Maritimes. For several decades the community consist-ed largely of plantation owners and Catholic missionaries.

During WWII, when American soldiers used Espiritu Santo as amilitary base, the town was relocated to the mouth of the SarakataRiver. Te base was one of the largest in the Pacific, second only toHawaii and the staging point for the major battles of Guadalcanal andSolomon Islands and the Battles of the Coral Sea. It included majorinfrastructure facilities, 3 bomber air bases, fighter air strips, a large

seaplane base and a major naval base with Pacific Fleet refueling facili-ties, extensive ship repair, reprovisioning facilities and 3 major hos-pitals. Te base served as a Rest and Recreation center for hundredsof thousands of Allied troops during the war. When the war ended,

American troops departed Santo and most had left by August of 1945,but much of the infrastructure built during the war remains and addssignificantly to Luganvilles character today.


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Historic Review Cont

In the 1960s, Jimmy Stevens founded the Nagramelmovement, which wanted to succeed from the NewHebrides. Just before Independence in 1980, the Na-

gramel Movement took control of Luganville, ejectedmany of the Europeans, and declared Santo as the sepa-rate nation of Vemarana. Shortly, troops from PapuaNew Guinea retook Luganville and Santo entered thenewly independent nation of Vanuatu. In the nearly 35years since Independence, the nations focus has beenon development of the capital, Port Vila. However,some of that focus is beginning to shift.

2.2 Site Assessment

Main StreetMain Street is the economic heart of the town. Alongthis 2k stretch of road lie many of the towns major

banks, government buildings, hotels and businesses.Vehicle traffic is manageable, even during peak morn-ing hours, when a pedestrian might wait a minute fortraffic to clear before crossing. Te streets and sidewalksare maintained only on an emergency basis and as aresult much of the concrete is broken and there areseveral areas with open drains, dangerous to drivers andpedestrians alike. Currently, this is the main pathwayfor cruise tourists on foot when they explore the town.

Riverside AreaTe Riverside Area lies along the eastern bank of theSarakata River, behind the Mamas Market and oppo-site to the residential area referred to as Sideriver bylocals. It is undeveloped Government land managed by

the municipality. Tere are currently several dilapidatedWWII foundations and small structures in the area thatcould be repurposed as part of a history walk throughthe park, though these structures may eventually fallunder control of the proposed WWII museum. Com-monly, this stretch of land is used by town residentsas a place to relax and fish with hand lines. Tere arefootpaths that follow along the river, but no established

walkway.


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Luganville MarketAlso commonly referred to as Te Mamas Market, thisis Santos largest local market house where vendors canbe found 24/7 selling kava, fruits, vegetables and localseafood. Nearby are a line of stalls which offer cheap

meals to residents and tourists on a budget. Otherstructures on the site include a Digicel kiosk, a publicpay-for-use toilet and a store. Te market and stalls arefunctional, but not aesthetically pleasing. However, UN

Women has committed to upgrading this area throughtheir Market for Change aid program and the Beau-tification ask Force is ready to assist should the needarise.

Municipal AreaTis includes the Luganville Municipal Council build-ing, the nearby police station and recently collapsed

work shed, which was a repurposed WWII building.Tere has already been some effort to beautify the

area and the ask Force believes that it is necessary tocontinue to set an example. After removing the debris,there are plans to repurpose the concrete slab where the

work shed recently stood, either as a place for holdingevents or as a nursery to provide the ask Force withplants to use in its beautification effort.

Unity ParkCommonly used for Santos largest community eventsand a popular place for locals to relax by the sea, UnityPark is triangle of land bordered by Main Street & theMunicipal Area, the Sarakata River and Segond Canal.

Viewable from Main Street are the most active partsof the park including a currently vacant restaurantbuilding, two play grounds, one old and one new, anda main stage used. Nearby is an open field commonlyused for football practice and other sports on weekdayafternoons. Te parks beach along Second Canal islined with wind-worn trees, providing nice shade. Inthe center of the park are a set of stalls available for rent

where local women sell food during large events such asIndependence. Close to the shore in this area is a large,dilapidated WWII structure. Nearer to the parks pointare several areas to play basketball, petanque, volleyball

and football, which is heavily used by children andadults. Te point is commonly used for picnics. A dirtroad winds through the park, giving vehicular access tothe point and some interior areas. However, the park isnot a unified space, as there is no agreed upon walkwaymoving through it. In some areas of the park, treesgrow naturally with no plan. In some areas, removal oftrees might create open spaces for further use in sports.Troughout the park are benches, but they are notplaced strategically and many of them are broken.


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Seawall AreaTis area is defined by the unsealed road which runsfrom Main Street in between Alan Powers and Attardown along the shore of Second Canal and then backup to Main Street past the current Handicrafts Market.Te area currently functions as a back alley to a line ofbuildings facing away from Segond Canal. Te un-paved road is lined with storage containers and is usedby local stores such as Santo Hardware as thoroughfarefor transporting cargo. Te bank is heavily eroded.In some places there is nothing left but networks oftree roots and a bit of compacted earth. All along thisstretch there are remnants of various WWII structures,rusted beyond recognition.

Proposed WWII Museum AreaTe WWII in the South Pacific Museum is a private-funded project now two years in progress. Te museumcommittee is searching for funding sources and isseeking full rights to build on the land just behind theLuganville Municipal Council building. Te design ofthe building is intended to provide Luganville with adistinctive landmark and of course provide an enter-tainment destination to tourists and locals. Currentlythe area sees little day-to-day use not provided by otherspaces within the park.

Tourist Market & Footpath AreaOn the east-side of town, when Main Street reaches theHarborview area, it makes a gentle left and ascends ahill, becoming Canal Street. Tere is also a fork to theright at this juncture which gives access to NISCOL

Wharf. On cruise ship days, this road is lined with lo-cal women selling handicrafts and purchased goods totourists passing by as they leave and return to the ship.Current discussion suggests that when the upgradesto NISCOL Wharf have been completed, the vendorsalong this road and those inside the wharf will bemoved to the opposite side in an effort to make the areamore secure. Corresponding, tourists will enter andexit through this newly opened gate. As this is a tour-ists first contact with Luganville, it is important thatsomething eventually be done to make the walk intotown enjoyable for those not accustomed to island life.

However, because of the uncertain nature of how thisproject will progress, we currently hold development ofthese areas at a low priority.


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2.3 Opportunities & Constraints

Opportunities

WWII History & Custom of Vanuatu

Luganville has a rich history in native culture, colonialrule and as a WWII recreation center. Of these, the cit-ies indebtedness to WWII is unique among the islandsof Vanuatu and so should be considered a major focusfor the development of any visual themes or designsbased on Luganvilles history.

Island ExoticismAnother theme to keep in mind is the exoticism oftropical islands. While historical and cultural accuracyalways take precedent, working to increase the presenceof island culture that tourists expect is a low cost, high

reward route to improving Luganvilles image. A primeexample of this approach is our recommendation ofincreasing the number of tropical flowers in town.

Economics of Cruise Ship TourismLuganvilles economy is heavily based on tourism,

which is beneficial in a number of ways. It is easy toforecast the number of tourists the city will receive in ayear and it is clear that number is increasing. Te num-ber has potential to increase even further if Luganvillecan impress upcoming visitors to Luganville. Coordi-

nating activation of the town and prioritizing projectsis simplified as the vast majority of tourists are in townat specific times known well in advance and they allengage the town through the same route.

Growing Sense of Luganvilles PotentialRecently, a representative of Carnival Australia men-tioned to the Department of ourism that Luganville isa sleeping giant. Tere is an undeniable growing senseamong stakeholders from the local to the internationallevel that it is Luganvilles turn for growth in Vanuatustourism economy. In recent years, at 69% approval rat-ing, Luganville has been one of the lowest-rated portsof call for cruise ships in the South Pacific. Recently,however, Luganville has jumped to 83% approval rat-ing, just below Vilas rating of 84%.

Layout of LuganvilleLuganville has the blessing of possessing a perfectlayout for filling a mornings walk along the seaside andback to the cruise ship, if the necessary work is done toactivate currently undeveloped assets within the city.

Potential Revenue increasesBy making the changes recommended in this report,there are a number of easily foreseeable revenue increas-es to residents and the local government through jobcreation and streams such as pay-for-use toilets.

Constraints

History & InfrastructureLuganville lives its legacy. American buildings con-structed during WWII dot the city in various states of

disrepair, giving it a character that many locals overlookbut is immediately recognizable to tourists. Because ofthis imbalance in evaluation, it is possible that somerelics which could be repurposed as historical points ofinterest will instead be torn down to make way for newconstruction. It is important to remember the tour-ist point of view and preserve the history that makesLuganville unique.

Lack of a Town PlannerDevelopment of the city is currently hampered by thelack of a town planner. Te municipal is currently ad-

dressing this issue, but there are many plans which haveor will reach a bottleneck until this position is filled.

Land OwnershipTere is a land ownership issue with a property ad-

jacent to BP Wharf (area pictured left) that couldhamper development of the Seawall project. Becauseof poor coordination between the Ministry of Landsand the Ministry of Internal Affairs, a loophole allowedfor a land claim by private interests which the city hasnot authorized. We recommend that the Beautification

askforce take on the role of coordinating the Ministryof Lands and the Ministry of Internal Affairs in resolv-ing this loophole and negotiating a solution that allowsfor development to continue unimpeded. It is alsopossible that a national law preventing the ownershipof roadways established at independence could be usedto nullify the granting of this title.


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Coordination of Multiple ProjectsUnity Park is the social heart of Luganville and therehave been many plans for development of this area inthe past few years. A number of those have been movedto other areas of town, including a handicrafts centerand a sports complex. Currently, the WWII MuseumCommittee is seeking access to the space just behindthe Luganville Municipal Council and there are pos-sible plans to place a Cultural Center nearby. Keepingtrack of these, and any other projects that arise, is veryimportant to an overall beautification strategy.

EnvironmentIn discussion of possible large-scale beautification ef-forts to be carried out in and around Unity Park, wehave identified several concerns regarding environmen-

tal impact. So far, these include the possible mainte-nance and cost of proposed fountains in the park, howtides and the Sarakata River may impact proposedchanges and the drainage pipe that empties into SegondCanal from a culvert in the park. We will need studiesconducted by relevant experts to ensure that all futuredevelopment takes into account these issues and pos-sibly others that have yet to be identified.

Local Business CultureTe business owners of Luganville are spread across

three distinct cultures: ni-Vanuatu, Chinese andWestern. Due to language barriers and interests, it isnot always easy to coordinate these various interests.However, the ask Force has had some success in creat-ing connections through various people assisting theproject. It is imperative that all interests in Luganvillebe considered when moving ahead with development.


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1: our Operators2: In-Wharf Market

3: ourist Market

4: axi Drivers

5: Nakamals/Bars

1: ourist Market2: our Operators

3: axi Drivers

4: Nakamal/Bars

5: Seawall Walk

6: Restauraunts7: Internet/Stores

8: Park/Market

9: Last our

* Exploring Further

6: Food & Internet7: Kastom Island

8: Unity Park Walkway

9: WWII Museum

10: Luganville Market

Top: Typical Path of Cruise Ship Passengers Bottom: Desired Path of Cruise Ship Passengers

A New Vision for Luganville


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SchematicPlans3.1 Project Vision

Te purpose of beautification in Lugan-ville is to increase the citys attractivenessas a tourism destination, especially forcruise ship tourists, to improve Lu-ganvilles capture of tourism growth inthe South Pacific over the next 5 to 10years. Tis will result in more tourismdollars available to residents involved

in the tourism sector: transport, tours,handicrafts, etc. Inevitably this will meanincreased revenue for the municipality,

which can be reinvested in beautification

Title Urgency Role

Engineer High Assess and plan construction of the seawall.

Town Planner High raffic planning for Main Street

CommunicationsManager

High Continued awareness campaign andcommunication needs of Task Force

Architect High Comprehensive design for Unity Park

1: Main Street

2: Luganville Market

3: Riverside

4: Municipal Grounds

5: WWII Museum

6: Unity Park

7: Seawall

8: ourist Market

9: Footpath

* : NISCOL Wharf

Beautification Zones

We have identified a number of projectsto support this effort, all of which fallinto an area roughly defined by the ownCenter according to zoning maps. Wehave unofficially labeled this the Lugan-ville Beautification Area, which we havebroken up into zones for prioritizationin two categories: small-scale projectsand large-scale projects. Te majority ofsmall-scale projects are efforts which canbe taken by the municipality with cur-rent resources. Large-scale projects willrequire outside aid.

Many of the small-scale projects canbegin immediately and, in some cases,have already begun. However, there areseveral projects for which we do not

currently have the required expertise. omove forward with larger plans, we willrequire at least some of the personnel inthe table.

Required Personnel Roles


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Zone Priority Difficulty Strategy

SeawallVeryHigh

CurrentlyDifficult

Solve ownership issues. Haveengineer design a plan. Build

Seawall & develop touristwalkway.

Unity Park& WWIIMuseum

High DifficultOrganize various interests,architect drafts comprehen-sive plan, implement the plan

Riverside High MediumEnsure availability of land,develop plan for walkway.

Build walkway.

Main Street Medium Easy Assistance in funding side-walk rehabilitation.

MunicipalGrounds

Medium Low Assistance in funding plantnursery to drive beautifica-

tion of Main Street.

TouristMarket &Footpath

Low Low

Monitor development ofarea as NISCOL Wharf isupgraded, ensure adquate

walkway available.

LuganvilleMarket

Upgrades currently befunded by UN.

Zone Priority Difficulty Strategy

Main StreetVeryHigh Medium

Focus on awareness amongbusiness owners, increase

flower boxes, fix drains, etc...

Municipal

Grounds

High Easy Improve gardens, dispose of

work shed, fix minor prob-lems, etc

LuganvilleMarket

Medium Medium Monitor UN improve-ments to area, make further

upgrades as needed.

Unity Park Low HardContinue monitoring andassisting with small scaleimprovements to park.

Other Zones InactiveWe do not currently

have plans for small-scaleimprovement of remainingareas due to very low prior-ity or planned large-scale

activity.

Prioritization of Small-Scale Projects

Prioritization of Large-Scale ProjectsPrioritization ofBeautification

Zones in Luganville


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3.2 Key Areas of Development

Seawall

Te Seawall Area is our highest priority for aid-assisted

development with great potential to be a beautiful at-traction for Luganville. Our vision is to have this areabecome the main walk for cruise ship tourists lined

with small cafes, handicraft stores and other tourism-oriented enterprises. Tis will require a hydrographicstudy, followed by planning and then building of aseawall along this stretch of road, the creation of apaved sidewalk, and installation of lights, benches,railing, etcWith the possibility to recast Luganvillein the minds of tourists, this is the most important areafor large-scale development funded by aid. Currently,development of this area is complicated by land-own-

ership issues discussed earlier in this document. TeLuganville Municipal Council is currently working tosolve this issue with other governmental bodies.

Developing a viable tourist attraction in this areagoes beyond concrete and iron, however. Among otherissues, container traffic in the area will need to bererouted and efforts must be made to make the areatourist-friendly in other regards.

After improvements to the seawall are finished, thisarea will also make a likely candidate for a municipal-run marina, a further project which would bring ad-

ditional revenue to the city.It was determined while preparing this design brief

that we do not currently have access to the expertiserequired to draft plans for the seawall. Assistance froma qualified engineer would be the first step in movingthis plan forward.

Top: Example of already-constructed seawall locatedbehind Santo Hardwarein proposed seawall area.

Bottom: A man rests in un-der a tree whose support haseroded in the proposed sea-

wall area. In the water standsthe ruins of a former seawall.


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Main StreetPlanters & TreesVanuatu is home to many beautiful plant species, butMain Street does not make much use of this fact, savefor a few forward-thinking businesses (Examples: HotelSanto, Unity Shell, HQ Nakamal & the Coconut CrabSanctuary.) For small-scale beautification carried outby the ask Force or other bodies acting on behalf ofthese recommendations, changing this reality is one ofthe highest priorities. We recommend that a numberof flower boxes filled with beautiful, but easily man-aged species be maintained along Main Street. Tis canbe accomplished with a combination of coordination

with private interests and investment by the Municipalin infrastructure and a flower nursery, described underKey Areas of Development for the Municipal Area.

Bus Stops & Taxi StationLuganville is the transportation hub of Sanma prov-ince, but for those who dont speak Bislama or areunfamiliar with Luganville finding your way can bedifficult. Te municipal has no designated places to

wait for transport and the ones agreed upon by resi-dents are not marked in any way. By creating officialtransportation stops throughout the city, the city wouldbe supporting the transportation industry, residentsand visitors. o this end, we recommend that cur-rently existing transportation stops be upgraded withadequate seating and protection from sun and rain.

Helpful information such as instructions for use of thestop, a list of areas serviced by each stop and normalprices to popular destinations should be posted at eachstop as well. Further, this effort would complementthe Department of ourisms plan to standardize landtransport in Luganville.

Improve Walkways & RoadsWhile the majority Main Street and the walkways alongit are passable, though perhaps not beautiful, some ar-eas are difficult, or in some cases dangerous, to walk or

drive along. Mostly, these hazards take two forms: opendrainage areas and poorly maintained unpaved roadsintersecting with Main Street. Currently, these unsight-ly flaws are one of the strongest markers that Luganvilleis a developing city. Under normal circumstances, it isthe responsibility of Public Works to ensure city roadsare maintained. While it is not clear why these long-

BusinessUnmanaged

Green Space Sealed Road

Unpaved Road

Unofficial Road

Main Street

Residential

Broken

Walkway

Planter

Rubbish Bin

Government

Bus/axi

StopOpenDrainage

DamagedRoad


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standing issues have not been addressed, the ask Forceintends to work through the council to ensure thatthese necessary repairs take place. By improving them,the city could increase safety and satisfaction of visitorsand residents, in particular among those with disabili-ties.

Tere are also large-scale suggestions, such as creat-ing a median down Main Street, possibly making somestreets one-way and installing a new roundabout at themajor intersection in the middle of town. Efforts onthis scale would require a skilled town planner to man-age design and implementation.

Management of Green SpacesTere are lots in town which are completely undevel-oped and unmanaged, leaving the appearance of jungleor bush. At least one of these areas is state property,

but many of them are owned privately. Under Munici-palities Act 126 Cleaning of Premises By-Law No.19, the city has the ability to require maintenance ofundergrowth which could be suitable habitat for rats,mosquitos and other pests. Te by-law permits for theserving of a notice to offending land owners, who mustcomply within 14 days. If the notice is not heeded, theCouncil may clean the area, claim costs for any workdone through a court with competent jurisdictionand, further, fine the land owner V 20,000 for notcomplying with the notice. Te ask Force recom-

mends that it be given authority to serve notices underthis by-law. If possible, revenue gained through theenforcement of this by-law should be reinvested by thecity into beautification.Prior to enforcement of this by-law, there should be anawareness campaign, giving the land owners a chanceto reach compliance before being served a notice.

It is also possible that concepts could be drawn up bythe Beautification ask Force for developing some ofthese unmanaged green spaces into simple parks. Tis

would require cooperation from the land owners.

Street LightsTe askforce is currently exploring options with VUIto repaint the utility poles which support power linesthroughout the town.

AwarenessBeautification is a concept found in ni-Vanuatu cul-ture, as evidenced by village maintenance and prepara-tions for celebrations. However, that concept has nottranslated well to Vanuatus urban areas. A sustainedinformation campaign and dialogue with the citizenry

of Luganville is required to change this fact. Effectiveapproaches towards this goal are:

Widely distributed posters informing citizenry of thebeautification efforts and by-law enforcement.

Speakers explaining the rational for beautification atlarge community events

One on one meetings with local business owners

Social Media, notably Facebook

o sustain these efforts, it will be necessary for theask Force to have a member dedicated to communica-tions. Te LMC may seek a volunteer or funding for acontracted position to fill this role.

Power of Social Mediain Vanuatu:Tis post to Yumi oktokStret, a Facebook group

with 14k members that

discusses politics and soci-ety in Vanuatu, containsa photo of open drainagealong Main Street anda description of a smallchild almost dying fromfalling into it. Te claimis unverified, but thesituation is dangerousand response from a citycommunications manager

would be appropriate.


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Improve FaadesMost of the buildings in Luganville areunpleasant to look at; they are rarely

washed or repainted and in some casesare falling apart all together. A faadesimprovement program could dra-matically improve the situation. First,a detailed outline of what constitutes a

well-maintained faade would need tobe developed. Ten the city could eitherdevelop and enforce building codesalong these lines or attempt to run afund-matching program as is done insome developed nations. In fund match-ing, the city offers to assist businesses inthe costs of improving their structures,either through direct monetary aid or

by offering discounts on land taxes,etc However, to run such a program,it is like that they city itself would needto secure aid. While aid donors haverecently demonstrated a greater interestin working with the private sectors, theask Force recognizes that this type offunding would be somewhat unusual.

Public SeatingAt one time, there were a number of

functional benches along Main Street,but many of them are unusable now,likely due to vandalism. We recommendthat a study be carried out in coordi-nation with the future town plannerto determine the best places to putnew benches and replace broken ones.

Further, careful consideration should bemade towards choosing materials thatare more difficult to vandalize than thecurrently existing cement and woodbenches, perhaps using metal as theprimary material.

Road SignsTere is a notable lack of road signs

and traffic signals in Luganville, andeven those that exist are incorrect or arein disrepair. We recommend address-ing this issue as a priority for the newtown planner, when that position isfilled again, especially for roads intersect-ing with Main Street. Signage shouldinclude stop signs, pedestrian warnings

and street signs on each corner, labelingthe name of the street.


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Unity Park

We have worked with an architect to develop a con-ceptual design for Unity Park to be used as a startingplace for a more detailed design once proper expertsare brought on board. Te Park is currently not a drawfor tourists, but is heavily used by locals for relaxationand sport. While preserving resident uses of the park,

we would like to draw visitors into the park by offeringan attractive footpath near the shores of Segond Canal,possibly incorporating access to a small, man-made is-land. A number of smaller details should be consideredin preparing a plan for the park.

Proposed Cultural CenterTere has been a long standing proposal for the con-struction of a Cultural Center on Santo, possibly in

Unity Park. Plans have been drawn up and there hasbeen some indication that funding would be availablefor such a project. Tere has been discussion aboutplacing this Cultural Center adjacent to the WWIIMuseum and all parties have tentatively agreed that thisis workable. While the political will behind this projectis not currently very strong, that could change. It isnecessary to stay in touch with this project as it devel-ops when considering the overall design of Unity Park.

Proposed WWII Museum Area

Efforts should be made to ensure that any developmentin the area currently being considered for the WWIIMuseum Area not conflict with future plans or wasteresources in efforts that will quickly be undone.Conceptual plan to be

used as inspiration for acomprehensive design bya professional architect.


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Toilet FacilitiesTere are currently pay-for-use toilet facilities in thepark which are only opened during large communityevents. Tey are functional, but in disrepair. Investmentin refurbishing these facilities would likely be enough,though there is some interest in building new ones.

Maintain & Improve Playground AreasTere are two sets of playground equipment in thepark, one old and one new. Te old playground is fall-ing apart and little used. It should be repaired, removedor combined with the newer equipment.

Community Walkway/Tourist PathTere is currently no established walkway throughthe park. o encourage visitor use of the land and toprovide an additional area for sports training, the ask

Force recommends that a paved path be establishedalong the waterways bordering the park. Tis shouldconnect with the Seawall area, providing a seamlesstransition between the two.

Public SeatingBenches in the park are constructed of cement supports

with wooden seating. Many of them are in disrepair,likely due to vandalism. New vandalism-resistant seat-ing should be designed and installed in areas that arecommonly used by residents when relaxing or any area

that is well shaded and provides a nice view.

Restaurant BuildingTere is currently a restaurant building along MainStreet in the park which blocks the view of the parksmain stage. We have been informed that there are plansto demolish and remove this building.

TreesTe trees in the park are not managed and it is possiblethat in some cases removal could open up spaces forfurther sports use. However, the line of trees along theshores of Segond Canal are an asset to the park, as theyprovide ample shade for sitting near the water. Teyshould not be disturbed.

Scatter StallsTere is currently a cluster of about 10 buildings in thecenter of the park which are rented by food vendorsduring large social events in the park such as Indepen-dence. Tere has been a suggestion that these stalls betorn down and rebuilt scattered around the park, pos-sibly along the proposed walkway.

Lighting

Lighting in the park is not currently adequate. Installedlighting should be placed along the proposed walkwayand around areas used for sports.

Main StageTere is a main stage in the park which is adequate forlocal community events, however it could use a newcoat of paint and possibly other upgrades.

Flower GardenTe beautification strategy of increasing the number

of well-maintained tropical plants in town should beextended to the park, but on a scale that is manageableby the municipal.

Picnic AreaTe point in the park, where the Sarakata River meetsSegond Canal, is commonly used on weekends as a

picnic area for Luganville residents. Tis area could beupgrade for official use with a barbeque stand, rubbishdisposal and other amenities.

WWII InfrastructureTere are a number of dilapidated WWII structures in

the park. If possible, they should be minimally restoredand labeled as historical points of interests for visitorsand residents.

Historical Attractions/MonumentsTere has been some discussion of constructing amonument in the park as a further distinctive feature.Proposed ideas include a stature or monument dedicat-ed to Jimmy Stevens, an important figure in the historyof Santo, or a tamtam, a cultural symbol important toNorthern Vanuatu.


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Municipal Area

Flowers and Minor RepairsTe Municipal is currently improving the garden infront of its building near the park. Further upgradesmight include fixing the outside roofing such that itdoes not leak when there is rain.

Plant NurseryLuganville Municipal Council is considering develop-ment of a plant nursery to provide resources for thebeautification of Main Street. Tere is an alternative

plan currently being considered to cooperate with theAgricultural College on this matter to save costs.

Cultural AttractionsTere are a few artifacts currently on the Municipalgrounds, most notably a large propeller whose historyis not currently known. Doing the necessary work to

place descriptive plaques next to these artifacts could

improve their prospects as part of a larger historicalwalk.

Luganville Market

As there is currently UN funding, the ask Force isstanding by to see what upgrades are planned for themarket place. If the following issues remain unad-dressed, we recommend action be taken.

Improve Parking AreaTe parking area for Luganville Market is unpaved andfilled with pot holes, which fill with muddy water whenit rains. While

Food Stall ImprovementsTe stalls in the Luganville Market area should beevaluated for possible improvements.

Improve Hygiene of Washing Area

Te people working at the Luganville Market haveaccess to running water for washing dishes and theirhands, but the source is not well maintained. Assess-ment of the best way to improve this problem is neces-sary.

Tourist Market & Footpath Area

As the first and last impression cruise ship visitorswill have with Luganville, this is an important area toconsider for future development. However, the pedes-

trian use of this area will likely change dramatically inthe coming years with upgrades to NISCOL Wharf. Asissues in the area are not critical, it is quite possible thatmany tourists will just take a taxi into town, and thereareas with much higher priority, it is better to wait andreact to the upcoming changes than attempt to antici-pate them.


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Top Left: Overgrown flow-

er bed along Main StreetTop: Bush in town on

Air Vanuatu-owned landRight: Crumbled seawallMiddle: Storm shutters onshops in town. Bottom: Bro-ken curb Left: Dangerousopen drainage along street.

Problems inLuganville


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Design Concepts

Top Left: Bamboo used as

planter wall. Top & TopRight: raditional canoe con-verted into modern bench.Left: Rubbish bin conceptMiddle Bottom: Bus StopMiddle right:amtam carvingRight: Bamboo planter.


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Beauty inLuganville

Top Left: Flower bed at Agri-

culture college. Top: Recentlyconstructed flower bed alongMain Street. RightCave Na-kamal near Main Street. Bot-tom: rees in front of UnityShell station. Left: Gardenin front of Hotel Santo.


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Implementation4.1 Funding Opportunities

Tis brief is, in part, a response to the possibility ofreceiving aid as noted in the Vanuatu Strategic ourismAction Plan 2014-2018 through the advocacy of theVanuatu Department of ourism.

Te municipality has committed to continue fund-ing the ask Forces work for the next fiscal year andhas indicated that this work is a priority in the citysoverall development. Tere has also been some discus-sion of additional assistance from the Vanuatu nationalgovernment specifically for this project.

Further, the ask Force has identified a number ofpossible revenue sources, some of which are mentioned

in this document, that may help to underwrite thebeautification of Luganville.

However, Te ask Force will continue to search forfurther opportunities for funding outside these sourcesas necessary.

ConclusionLuganville is a perfect balance between the amenities ofthe city and the style of the rural. Problems of traffic,

pollution and noise that trouble other Vanuatu citiesare not to be found here. Te community is large, buttight knit, and so Luganville has not lost the famed

warmth and openness of Vanuatu culture. However, thebeauty of Luganville does not reflect the beauty of itspeople. Tey citys infrastructure is in desperate need ofupgrades if it is to reach its full potential as a desirabletourist destination.

From business owners and the municipality to theVanuatu government and international aid donors,there is an undeniable sense that now is the time tomake this possibility a reality and to do the work neces-

sary to show case the towns natural beauty and fascinat-ing history. By working with stakeholders in all sectors,

we have complied an impressive number of improve-ments that can be made to the city, but by listeningclosely, we have also identified which of those are mostin need.

Tis is a seed document, which we hope will benurtured into a much fuller beautificaion plan. Such aplan will provide a reality check to the ambitious natureof this document, which is inteded to collect all of theviable ideas within the community. It will conserva-

tively select from the propositions in this document,provide a generous timeline for their achievement anddetermine the required budget to do so among manyother required details.

Beautification is part imagination and part determina-tion. One must see what can be, not what currently is.Many have dreamt of Luganvilles potential for a longtime, the possibility of a true paradise by the sea is soobvious. Te strategy, prioritizations, and prescribedactions outlined in this brief are just the beginning of areal effort to put Luganville on the map.


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J. Hunter Sizemore,Peace Corps Vanuatu Volunteer 12-14,

in consultation with the

Luganville Beautification Task Force.

luganville beautification design brief

Documents