Cloud looms over costly heritage assets

The high cost of maintaining heritage assets is weighing heavily on the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board.

It wants Auckland Council to more directly shoulder the burden for the likes of the Claystore in Devonport, the PumpHouse Theatre in Takapuna and Kennedy Park’s World War II-era military installations in Castor Bay.

As an area with a high number of heritage structures, the pressure about how to pay to maintain them has come to the fore due to council budget cuts and dealing with competing community needs.

“We’re in the unenviable position of having to make hard decisions as there’s not enough money to renew all our assets,” board chair Toni van Tonder said.

A public petition to save the heritage-listed Kennedy Park installations was launched this month after locals and military-history advocates were shocked to learn Auckland Council staff had presented options to the board, including closing military tunnels and demolishing a dilapidated barracks.

Van Tonder told the Flagstaff the board had a duty to manage its money to also provide for other well-used community assets in its area.

It had to look to the future as well, which in the case of fast-growing Takapuna includes its desire to provide a community hub.

At a board workshop last week on the final draft of the local board’s next threeyear plan, members identified managing the area’s heritage assets as a challenge.

Van Tonder said that was why she hoped the council’s governing body would recognise its case with a separate citywide heritage fund to help all boards that had assets of wider significance.

No decision had been made about Kennedy Park, she said, with board members asking staff for a lot more information.

But if the board spent the $1.5 million staff estimated tunnel repairs would cost, $1.8m to fully restore the barracks and also proceeded with a $1.2m spend it backed just two months ago to upgrade the Claystore, this “pretty much takes up Devonport-Takapuna’s whole annual budget for renewals – maybe a bit more”.

The Claystore community workshop at 25 Lake Rd is on a future works programme –yet to be adopted – for earthquake-strengthening and the addition of a mezzanine floor to provide extra leasable space.

The Castor Bay Ratepayers and Residents Association and the Kennedy Park WWII Installations Trust say neglect of regular maintenance of the facilities over many years has compounded ageing issues there. Better promotion could also attract more visitors, as at Maungauika and Takarunga in Devonport, where the fortifications fall under the management of the Tūpuna Maunga Authority.

Trust chair Chris Owen says the Kennedy Park tunnels are not in as bad a shape as the fenced-off barracks building at 139 Beach Rd. This is believed to be the nation’s last remaining example of its type of military architecture of deception, with the structure having been designed to resemble a house.

As a bottom line, Owen – who runs monthly tours of the tunnels – wants the barracks exterior made watertight and for no action to be taken that would preclude preservation in the future if more money can be found.

Hamish Anderson, who chairs the ratepayers group, said the old barracks might become a useful emergency hub in an area without one.

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Accommodation

Garden apartment, Central Devonport, to let short or long-term. Interested in week nights only if anyone wants that option? Open to any number of nights though. Private, self-contained, separate entrance. One queen-size bedroom, dressing room, sep bath, shower, laundry, openplan living/kitchen/dining. Phone 021 414 090.

Home wanted to rent. 2-3 bedroom, comfortable and clean, for local lady keen gardener. Please contact Alice, 021 989 002.

SERVICES OFFERED

Complete home maintenance by perfectionist boat builder/builders. Including rotten windows, doors, weather boards. Exterior/ interior. We also do shingles and shake replacement. Call Duane 027 488 5478.

FixIT Handyman - excellent work, practical budget, most jobs welcome, interior/exterior free quote. Josh 0212618322

SERVICES OFFERED

Need someone to feed your cat and other pets at your home while you’re away? I love animals and would love to help you! I am 12 years old and live in Devonport. I charge $5 per visit. Each visit I feed your pet and can play with them for about 10-15 minutes each visit if they are comfortable with me. I also send you pics of them so you don’t miss them too much! I always visit with one of my parents. Devonport only please! Text/call: 021-270-7677.

Painting and decorating. General property maintenance - reasonable rates. Ph Bernard 445 8816 or 021 0255 5456.

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Phone 027 445 6211 nigelbioletti@devonportpeninsulatrust.nz

Mihi mahana ki a koutou HŌTOKE/WINTER TAMARIKI PLAY

Every Tuesday 9:30 am to 11:30 am at Bayswater School Hall - started June 6th with 32 parents and children attending - marvellous, and continues until October.

Matariki

Go to the www.dpt.nz to view the activities and events scheduled for the Peninsula.

These activities and events are being funded by a number of organisations: largely, Auckland Council through the Devonport Takapuna Local Board; The Navy Museum of New Zealand; Devonport Business Association, and the Devonport Peninsula Trust, and involve many organisations on the peninsula. Our thanks also to Pub Charity, which has provided generous support for the Windsor Reserve event. Acknowledgements and sincere thanks to all parties.

Community Gathering Windsor Reserve

JULY 15TH, FROM 5PM

This event was deliberately planned to enable older generation and less mobile folk to be part of Matariki. There will be a night market from 4pm - on the Wharves.

We hope that you can join in this celebration of Matariki, starting with a karakia, welcome, then a programme of waiata, including by the Community Kapa Haka group, dance, lantern parade, stories - we want the community to be If you or your children would like to present, please email abby@dpt.nz

MID-WINTER DIP

Can we make it to 350 people taking the plunge?? Sunday June 25th at 11:30 at Windsor Reserve beach (register there from 11:00 am, or register any time on www.dpt.nz)

Hot soup afterwards, generously provided by the team at ‘The Officers’ Mess’, or a sausage sizzle - support our Scouts. Get the family together, make a splash!

Sponsors - Our ‘thanks to Alex, at EasyPC www.easypc.co.nz

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For more information visit: westlakegirls.school.nz/open-night