Hibiscus Coast Community House will be moving to a new site at its existing home at Western Reserve.
The Council undertook consultation on a draft Reserve Management Plan for Victor Eaves Park which proposed that Community House be relocated from its current site on Western Reserve to the park.
44 submissions were received on the draft Plan. Of these, 16 opposed Community House being moved to Victor Eaves Park. One of these submissions was supported by 29 local residents.
The submitters who opposed Community House being located on Victor Eaves Park generally did so on the grounds that facility would not be in keeping with the recreational character of the park. Concerns were also expressed about transportation links and the appearance of Community House buildings at one of the gateways to Orewa.
After considering submissions, Council officers recommended that Community House remain on Western Reserve, but be moved to a slightly different location, adjacent to the Arts Centre. Western Reserve has the advantage of good transportation links and is already a hub for community facilities such as the Hibiscus Coast Youth Centre and the Estuary Arts Centre.
Jacki Dawson also appeared at the submission hearing on behalf of Community House and advised the Council that Community House unanimously supported their facility being moved to the new site at Western Reserve. A number of the submitters who opposed Community House being housed on Victor Eaves Park also indicated to the Council at the hearing that they supported the use of the Western Reserve site.
After considering submissions, the Council agreed that Western Reserve would make a more suitable site for Community House in the future. The Council resolved to amend the Victor Eaves Park Reserve Management Plan to remove any reference to Community House being located there.
For further information and comment please contact:
Peter Vari
Rodney District Council
Phone 0800 426 5169
peter.vari@rodney.govt.nz