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Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board
25 February
2021
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Deputation - Otahuhu Historical Society
25 February2021
Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board Item 8.2 - Deputation Otahuhu
Historical Society Submission
Deputation to Mangere
Otahuhu Board. 25th February. 2021 537
GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS
MY NAME IS ROBERT FINDLAY.
The proposed second speaker
Bella Tamutu the Town Hall Manager
Has been admitted to Middle more hospital
Tony Carson President of Otahuhu
Historic Society was to her replacement
He has not turned up on time so Pastor
Eroni Rabo of the South Auckland Fijian Assembly of God will be second
speaker.
My family has lived in Otahuhu for 32
years.
I was Manukau City Council Park Operations
and Recreation Manager for 23 years.
During that time I attended Mangere and
other Manukau community board meetings.
So, I know many previous Mangere
Community board members who served their time and have gone before us.
I appreciate and acknowledge the good work
that you put into the job on behalf of your communities.
The extent and wide-ranging
responsibilities you have are not fully understood by the public at large.
Nor how important it is to engage with
their local board.
I understand how difficult it is for many
to make submissions using modern technology. “On line”
I wish to speak to the Service Property Optimisation Resolution number 159, passed Sept 2019,
which is about the possible divestment of either or the community facilities at
12-16 High Street Otahuhu.
1. TO BE CLEAR we oppose the
policy of Auckland Council to deprive Otahuhu residents of one of their
community facilities. Under the guise of Service Property Optimisation.
It is unbelievable that
another local board has agreed sell some local parks -recreation reserves-we
prided ourselves in Manukau City on the ratio of people to open
space.-fortunately that decision will depend upon the Department of
conservation who have the final say.
There is a parallel here if
this board agrees to the divestment of our inside community spaces.
Except this board YOU
have the final say.
One cannot help get the
feeling the super city does not have the local community at heart, just look at
the huge sums being spent in the CBD and elsewhere to make it a place for
tourists we say locals should come first.
We being the
petitioners c300 and users of the facilities, leasees and all others
unaware of the proposal.
We believe once sold our
space will never be replaced.
With population growth it
will be in even more demand
Otahuhu is growing not
shrinking.
A lack of any specifics
regarding the proposal helps inform this stance.
What will the land developer
do for us?
How well
will a smaller space repurposed single facility meet the present
and future demand
INSTEAD, Auckland Council
should do their job properly by carrying out a renewal program which includes
repurposing the Council chamber building to accommodate present and future use
in fit for purpose facilities.
The lack of maintenance of
the old borough chambers and land since the library was removed reflects very
poorly on Auckland Council the Super city
If you have doubts
about this just look at the state of the carpark.
Two nights ago after a
meeting of the Historic Society Mrs Wilma Madgewick QSM expressed fear of
walking across the carpark for fear of tripping over.
The question needs to be
asked, where is the renewal budget?
Would be tolerated in other
wards of the Super City. No but this is only Otahuhu…
2. It is important to note that
these proposals precede COVID-19 19 and we would argue this should
not be an excuse to once again disadvantage Otahuhu.
When has any other community
had to sell a community facility to retain one?
3. LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THIS
PROPOSAL AMONGST THE COMMUNITY.:
Despite this resolution
being passed in Sept 2019 most people we have approached were not aware
of it.
This raises questions about
what proportion of the population were “consulted” during the
community needs assessment? Does this proposal reflect the wishes of the
Otahuhu community?
4. We believe that it would be
impossible to accommodate the existing user groups community needs for a hall
and community centre as well accommodate future growth in population in a
repurposed chambers building alone.
5. SO We ask you the Mangere
Otahuhu local board recognise the wishes of the petitioners, present and future
lease holders and future users….
Recognise the lack of
knowledge of this proposal among the Otahuhu community at large….
AND REVERSE your endorsement
of the Auckland Council Proposal to sell either or of the Otahuhu Community
facilities at 12-16 High Street.
Instead tell Auckland
Council to make the Old chambers fit for purpose.
Thank you.
Robert Findlay
Pastor Eroni Rabo SAAOG
On behalf of
The petitioners, the leasees
including those listed below and all those other users who are unaware of the
proposal.
Bella was going to talk
about the arts and cultural needs assessment the lack of time to
interview groups input only from a few people did’nt reflect the
community, and was a closed door assessment no actual community open feedback
platform made available.
Tony was going to speak abt.
the insufficient space for valuable OHS museum material that has to be stored
offsite.
Auckland Tongan Group
Blind and Low Vision
formerly Blind foundation
LIA Social Services Trust
Otahuhu Maori Wardens
Penrose Assembly of God
South
Auckland Individual Employment Placement Support
South
Auckland Seniors
South
Auckland Fijian Assembly of God
