DEMOLITION PROJECT: Ian Young at the soccer club building, which goes in stage one of the revamp.

FEARS that plans to revamp Eastbourne Village were “all talk” have been allayed, says community board chairman Ian Young.

“The community had a fear that it might be all talk and nothing might happen,” he says.

But the board had consulted widely with community groups, residents and businesses and now he is confident of strong approval for the plans, which are nearly completed.

Mr Young says multiple plans have been drawn up before, and then cast aside, but this scheme was a completely different story.

“There’s been a big plan for Eastbourne before and there’s been very little action.”

The community is very much in favour of the current plan because people realise money has already been committed [and] they are feeling more confident the plan will eventuate.

The village redesign is scheduled to be completed by 2013 and is estimated to cost $1 million.

The proposed work will improve the Rimu St access to the village, the existing public toilet block will be replaced and a new suburban shopping complex will be built..

The first project will be to reconstruct the public toilet block, beginning next week, while the other  work will be done over the next three years.

Hutt City Council parks and gardens manager Bruce Hodgins says the planning process has not been easy because of the issues the council has encountered.

A big one was finding a new home for the soccer club, which uses a building that is going to be demolished, he says.

“We’re going to accommodate them in HW Shortt Park with the rugby and cricket clubs,” he says.

“We’ve just got to get things right so that they’re satisfied.”

Mr Hodgins says the projects will be council–funded, with local service organisations (such as Rotary and Lions) possibly helping out with labour.

The council has earmarked $500,000 over the three years, and discussions are being held with Rotary, which has indicated it wants to participate.

GRAND PLAN: A look into Eastbourne's future.