Meadowbank Community Centre

A plan for a new, fit-for-purpose community centre that better meets the needs of communities in Meadowbank, Remuera and surrounding suburbs has been put into action by Ōrākei Local Board.

Orakei Local Board Comments to November 2019 Monthly Meeting

26 November 2019

We were fortunate to have the newly elected Chairperson of the Orakei Local Board (OLB) Scott Milne speak at our November 2019 monthly meeting, as well as Troy Churton, Troy Elliot and Margaret Voyce also in attendance. We were keen to hear their thoughts on priorities for Orakei Ward over the three year team ahead. Below is a brief summary of the discussion.

The OLB is in good health with a mix of incumbents and newly elected members. They are in the process of getting up to speed and understanding council systems, relationships and processes.

Some priorities that the OLB outlined for our area:

  1. Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive shared path – this is possibly the toughest job that the OLB faces. They emphasised that it is important that stage 2 is built and not be dependent on stage 4 also being constructed. The Auckland Transport (AT) board has changed with new people in place. Scott emphasised that the OLB needs to continue building a constructive relationship with AT to work together to improve progress. He noted that our successful One Local Initiative (OLI) in the long term plan of the Gowing Dr and John Rymer Place links to the shared path that would connect both sides of Pourewa Valley (and connect kids with their schools) are dependent on the shared path being built. Scott said “The new board is determined not to let go of the bone” referring to the success of securing funding for the links.
  2. Meadowbank Community Centre – the community centre redevelopment is being funded by selling the Victoria Ave old CAB building. This has been completed successfully. The Tahapa Hall will also be sold to fund the redevelopment, but only once the redevelopment has been completed as to provide a venue for groups to use while the construction takes place. Detailed designs are not yet available.
  3. Waiatarua Wetland Reserve – the OLB is keen to complete the Waiatarua Reserve Enhancement Plan and have a clear pathway for future investment in the wetland reserve. They are keen to ensure that it continues functioning as a wetland and that the reserve is used appropriately e.g. that dogs stay out of the wetland areas and that the sediment removal systems do their job. Scott said that there is a lot of space in the reserve and that good, fair and balanced solutions are definitely possible for all those who wish to use the reserve.

Mayor Phil Goff will be visiting the OLB area in late January 2020 to visit the major project sites including the shared path site and the Gowing Drive and John Rymer Place connection sites (funding secured in the OLI) to understand the area and the benefits these projects will bring to the community.

Our youngest residents association member (aged 10) asked a question from the floor about what the OLB intends to do to tackle climate change. Scott noted that the shared path and local links to it would contribute to fewer car trips and also encourage people to take alternative and more active methods of transport. He also emphasised that there is a long list of little things that collectively add up that we can all do to change the way we think and consider more climate friendly options.

Community Centre Fun and Info Afternoon 1 September

25 July 2019

The Meadowbank Community Centre are holding a Fun and Info Afternoon on Sunday 1st September 2019 from 1 to 4pm. See the flyer for all the details, or click here for the PDF. We will be handing out rat traps on the day so join the good fight for our birds and come collect your trap on the day.

 

Meadowbank Community Centre Is Still Open – Update

24 May 2019

What’s happening with the Meadowbank Community Centre upgrade? There is lots happening of late with the previous management contract coming to an end. As of 1 May Auckland Council has taken over management of the community centre and Tahapa Hall. The Council are putting out some information in the next few weeks about the changes and how to book the facilities in future, and are communicating directly with the users/hirers of both facilities about details that affect their use. Until further communication arrives, here is a brief summary in the meantime:

  • The Meadowbank Community Centre and Tahapa Hall are still open for community use.
  • There is an arrangement to support all the hirers/users of the centre and hall prior to 1 May and support them with their hire through the transition period to the end of the calendar year.
  • Tahapa Hall will be going through some maintenance works from 19 May 2019 – 9 June 2019. All known hirers have been notified.
  • Many items at the community centre were the property of the society and were removed prior to the handover to Auckland Council. This includes the playground which was removed and sold by the society. Council is sourcing furnishings and are working very hard on making the facility a warm, welcoming and inviting place to meet.
  • All contact details on the Auckland Council website have been updated with current information.
  • Pauline Laithwaite is the Transition Coordinator for the Meadowbank Community Centre and the Tahapa Hall. Her contact details are Feel free to contact her if you have any enquiries about the facilities or you can pop in and visit with Pauline.
  • If you are aware of anyone that uses either of these facilities who has not been contacted please pass on these details so they can make contact with Pauline.

The community centre has had a bit of a tidy up in the past week and I think you will agree that it is looking good. There certainly is a lot on the horizon for this space with the future redevelopment, and we look forward to the great benefits the new facility will bring our community. We will continue to share updates on the redevelopment project as they come to hand.

 

 

Community Centre Background to Funding the Redevelopment

15 November 2018

Following on from the Meadowbank Community Centre user group meeting held in early October 2018, we have sought to clarify the history on funding decisions to redevelop the community centre (there is a long history!) and also sought to better understand the decision to work with Panuku (Auckland Council’s development arm) and a private development partner to fund the rebuild. According to this article written in 2012 the community raised funds for a community centre in the 1980s and the building is now approximately 75 years old. Carmel Claridge of the Orakei Local Board has kindly put together some background information below on these funding decisions.

We will keep you updated on progress and consultation with this significant build, and are very pleased to see planning on a better fit-for-purpose space being available to our community after decades of delays.

Background to Funding Meadowbank Community Centre Redevelopment

Few would argue that the current state of the current Meadowbank Community Centre is not up to standard. The cost of constant repairs on an old, and rapidly depreciating building are now becoming prohibitive. Previous Orakei Local Boards have lobbied to the Governing Body of Auckland Council for the required funding for an upgrade for the Centre for many years.

In 2012 Auckland Council voted for $2.75 million of funding to be allocated for the redevelopment of the Community Centre through the Council’s 2016/2017 Long Term Plan. Unfortunately this funding did not come to fruition.

In 2014 the Orakei Ward Councillor at that time, Cameron Brewer, tried to persuade his colleagues around the Council table to bring that funding forward to 2014/2015. Unfortunately, not only did the majority of Council vote not to do so, the funding was pushed out even further to 2020. It is highly unlikely, given the escalating costs of building materials and inflation, that by 2020 this amount of this funding would be sufficient to build a new Centre.

The current Board was therefore left with a situation where they had a structure in a very poor state, with insufficient resources within their own budget for a renewal, having to wait until 2020 for Regional funding. Funding which could continue to be deferred. An assessment report on the building’s condition indicated that it was currently not ‘fit for purpose’ – and the Board had concerns that there was a very real prospect of this asset deteriorating to the extent where it would be deemed non-service. Should a Council property be deemed non-service through Council’s internal processes, it can potentially be removed from the Local Board’s governance by the Governing Body of Council and passed over to Panuku Development Auckland (Council’s development arm) The current Board was not prepared to take the risk of losing this important community asset.

An optimization process whereby the ownership of the site is retained by Council but developed by Panuku, in conjunction with a private partner is the key to obtaining the required funding needed for the Centre and securing the site for the future. The Board’s vision is for a mixed use development with community facilities and Board offices on the ground floor, with housing above. The community facilities will be designed to accommodate a mixed used of new and existing community services. This will enable the Centre to be better used by the wider community.

The decisions to enable commencement of the process to redevelop were made by the Orakei Local Board at its September Business Meeting after long and careful consideration of all options that were available to us. We have complete confidence that those decisions we have made are in the best interests of our communities, and will deliver a new purpose built community facility to our constituents that will stand the test of time. It is anticipated that the sale of the airspace for housing above the ground floor facilities will enable this much needed development for our community to be provided on a cost neutral basis.

Well before any building work starts, the public will have ample opportunity to provide their input into how they would like their Centre to look and what aspirations they have for the types of services they would like to see delivered.

Carmel Claridge – Deputy Chairman

Orakei Local Board

 

Community Centre Redevelopment – Notes From User Group Meeting

29 October 2018

The Orakei Local Board held a meeting for people who currently use the Meadowbank Community Centre to discuss the site redevelopment. It was a very important meeting and first step on this journey. Topics covered were:

• Projected redevelopment timelines
• Relocation assistance for groups
• Funding opportunities
• New centre development and community engagement opportunities.

The meeting was well attended and there was much lively discussion with plenty of questions and concerns raised. What’s proposed is a much larger indoor space (potentially 600 m2 compared to 250 m2) on the ground floor that can accommodate the activities currently held at MCC, Tahapa Hall and elsewhere, but less outdoor space. In addition, the OLB offices (about 150 m2) will be on the ground floor. Four stories above (to the Unitary Plan height limit) are proposed for apartments built to 6-star building standard.

The formal consultation process will open soon ahead of consenting and construction, which may begin as soon as October 2019. We’ll keep you posted, and will very likely make a collective submission.

We have been informed that there should be no change to way the centre is operated until the 7th July 2019, when the current operational contract ends. From the 8th July until the start of the redevelopment (date still unknown) the centre will temporarily be managed by Auckland Council, ensuring groups still have access to the facility until the redevelopment starts.

As requested at the user group meeting, below is a updated list of frequently asked questions around the redevelopment of the centre.

FAQ’s (correct as of 25/10/18)

When will the current centre close?

The Ōrākei  Local Board has approved the redevelopment of the Meadowbank Community Centre site.  This project is being led by Panuku Development Auckland (Panuku) an Auckland Council organisation that focuses on development and regeneration. Panuku is in the process of engaging a building partner. Building timelines will be agreed and approved once this partner is identified. Once a building partner has been approved a building time line will be agreed upon. The centre will remain open until the redevelopment starts.

Will the Meadowbank Community Centre House Incorporated (The Trust) continue to operate the centre?

The Meadowbank Community Centre House Incorporated (The Trust) will continue to operate the centre until expiry of its contract 30 June 2019. A weeks extension has been granted to allow time for the Trust to end operational matters in alignment with the end of the programme term. We would like to acknowledge the Meadowbank Community Centre House Incorporated and their staff for their longstanding years of community service to the Meadowbank Community.

What will happen to the centre between the 8th July and the start of the redevelopment?

During the interim period 8th July 2019 and the start of redevelopment operational management will be undertaken by Auckland Council. Existing groups will get priority over any new bookings during this period and legacy room rates will still apply.

Where can my group/programme operate from during the redevelopment?

Auckland Council staff will assist current user groups find suitable spaces to relocate their groups/programme should they require this support.  This could include other Auckland Council community venues or community operated venues in the area. If a suitable venue is found it will be the responsibility of each group to complete their relocation directly with their new venue provider.

What can I do if the space I move to during the redevelopment is more expensive than my current space?

If there is a difference between the current charges at Meadowbank Community Centre and your new venue, you can apply to the Ōrākei Local Board for a grant to cover the different.  The Ōrākei Local Board has made a commitment to supporting community groups to continue to operate during the redevelopment, with the long-term vision that they re-join the new community centre when it is open.

Will my group/programme fit in the new centre?

The configuration or floor plan of the new community centre has not been designed yet, this will be designed with the feedback and information provided by the current and future user groups in future community consultations.

What will the inside of the new centre look like?

The new development will be a mixed-use building. The ground floor will be a community space and the above floors residential apartments. The building is yet to be designed but it will be guided by the Unitary Plan.  The interior layout and configuration of the new community centre has not been designed yet, there will be consultation (including current user groups) once a building partner has been appointed to shape the inside of the centre. We are expecting the new community centre to have an internal floor space of approximately 550m2 (currently 263m2).  There are also plans for the Ōrākei Local Board Office to be part of the centre (in addition to the 550m2).

Will there be a Licenced Early Childhood Education Centre built into the new community centre?

There is no plan to incorporate a Licenced Early Childhood Education Centre into this centre. The centre will be designed for people and groups of all ages to cater for a wide variety of activity.

Will there be carparking?

There will be separated parking for residents and community centre users, the exact numbers and configuration is yet to be finalised, but it will be guided by the Unitary Plan.

Will the Ōrākei Local Board Office be relocated in to the new community centre?

It is intended that the new community centre will incorporate space for the Ōrākei Local Board and council staff.

When the new centre be open?

These details are not yet known.  Panuku is currently looking for a building partner to complete the redevelopment. Once a building partner has been approved a building time line, including estimated completion date, will be agreed.

When the new centre is open, who will manage it?

During the redevelopment process the Ōrākei Local Board will make decisions on the future operating model for the Meadowbank Community Centre. The Ōrākei Local Board has favoured a community led model for many of their local community centres, this approach is strategically aligned to council and local board outcomes, empowering communities to deliver. This model empowers a community organisation to be the centre’s operational decision-makers.

How can I be kept up to date regarding the redevelopments?

Information and developments will be updated to the Panuku website www.panuku.co.nz

Alternatively you can contact

Who can help me find a suitable space to continue to run my group/programme?

Relocation enquiries;

Susan Ropati    Places Manager, Auckland Council

021 892 435

Funding enquiries;

Kev Carter        Strategic Broker, Auckland Council

0211915312

 

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