Big upgrade at Wilson Centre

Villas at the Wilson Centre in Belmont are being demolished as part of a major upgrade of its respite-care and rehabilitation facilities.

Specialised care equipment, such as bed hoists, is being added, kitchens and bathrooms improved, and a recreation area expanded in a three-stage project over the next year.

Wilson Trust board member John Whitehead told the Flagstaff the upgrade would bring general improvements in terms of care and livability.

As the only facility of its kind in the North Island, the centre, which was established in 1937, will remain two-thirds operational throughout construction.

The trust has raised six million dollars for the project and is seeking donations to ease the financial strain.

The villa upgrades follow renovations to the chapel, homestead and nurse station completed in 2022 and 2023.

The walkway through the centre, from Lake Rd to St Leonards Rd, is closed during the upgrade.

Briefs

Burglary arrests

Police took two women on a Belmont street into custody on 28 June, following a burglary in Devonport earlier in the day. The women were arrested near the intersection of Lake Rd and Egremont St. The pair, aged 38 and 42, have been charged with burglary and remanded in custody.

Club lease still in offing

The North Shore Rugby and Cricket Clubs are still waiting on a final lease from Auckland Council for the defunct Devonport Bowling Club. Once it is received and signed, the clubs will move ahead with plans to redevelop the site, which is set to include changing rooms for women players.

No budget for Dacre Park

Plans to redevelop Dacre Park, the home of North Shore United Football Club, are still on hold. The project stalled in 2020 due to Auckland Council’s Covid emergency-andrecovery budgets. No funds are allocated to the project in the next three-year work programme. “Dacre Park, the reserve, is maintained as a normal local sports park and we continue to work with the soccer club to renew small items as necessary,” Sarah Jones, Auckland Council Manager Area Operations, said.

Mataraki holiday fun

Matariki activities in Devonport over the long weekend include the Auckland Youth Symphonic Winds Band at 11am 14 July at the ferry terminal, along with a schools kapa haka at the wharf at 11am on July 15 and evening actitivies on Windsor Reserve. Go to: www.dpt.nz

Saturday 15th July, 2023