February 5 2015
The Devonport Flagstaff Page 17
Letters
Fire and freedom of speech circle “new heart” of Devonport
33
Work flies in face of heritage protection
The unconsented construction work that has MegaPixels been undertaken at284A Vauxhall Road recently 1600x1200 2 MegaPixels has resulted in the demolition by stealth of a pre1600x1200 1944 home. It is well known in our community that this type of work is subject to specific planning rules and has been for many years. For a building professional to ignore both resource management and building consent ABLE IN DEVONPORT ORDABLErequirements IN DEVONPORT seems astonishing. Council officpacious, comfortable and light filled threeshould bedroom home. In a ers monitoring the site take enforcement ter this spacious, comfortable and light filled three bedroom home. In a sitely transformed by the clever owners. Attention to design detail lifts action without further delay. en exquisitely transformed by the clever owners. Attention to design detail lifts ctical and easy live to in.live The openopen plan living and dining both practical andto easy in.generous The generous living and dining The lack of compliance byplan the owner/builder h-west facing, facing, privateprivate deck. deck. The galley kitchen andand family bathroom nny, north-west The galley kitchen family bathroom on basic consent issues is damaging to our comemphasis on sustainable design. Fall in withwith gorgeous timber with an emphasis on sustainable design. Falllove in love gorgeous timber munity’s agreement protect and maintain dd polished macrocarpa Set back off road theto road in serene surroundings, this macrocarpa floors. floors. Set back off the in serene surroundings, this Devonport’s andGrammar. sets a poor example. om parks,and shops and transport. Incharacter zone for Takapuna Grammar. Ideal , shops transport. In zone for Takapuna Ideal forfora a downsizing or investors. ing or investors. Claudia Page, uring this unique opportunity! s unique opportunity! Chairperson Devonport Heritage
OUT & ABOUT with MARIA TEAPE 445 9533 | dportcomm@xtra.co.nz
CROQUET CLUB FAMILY SESSION Sun 8th Feb, 10am-12pm, Wairoa Rd, Devonport Have a go at croquet with refreshments provided. Cost: $20. For more info contact Charlotte ph: 021 949 049.
COMMUNITY NETWORK MEETING Thurs 12th Feb, 10:00am - 12 noon Devonport Yacht Club, 25 King Edward Parade, Devonport (wheelchair accessible) A quarterly meeting to promote networking among residents and local community groups. All welcome and morning tea provided. For more info, contact Maria ph: 445 9533 or email: dportcomm@xtra.co.nz
WELCOME TO DEVONPORT MEETING Tues 16th Feb, 10:30am, Devonport Community House (wheelchair accessible) Are you new to the area? Even if you’ve been here for a little while, we would love to meet you! We offer a relaxed social and informative opportunity to find out more about your new community. For more info, contact Rebecca ph: 445 3068 or Maria ph: 445 9533.
KIDS’ ATHLETIC SERIES – FREE Tuesdays, 4pm-6pm, Feb 17 and 24 and Mar 3 and 10, Devonport Domain Cricket grounds - by the Bowling Club) Note the new day and venue! Children aged 5ish – 11ish can have fun giving activities like high jump, shot put and running races a go! Bring a hat and water, and register upon arrival! For more info, contact Carolyn or Maria at 445 9533 or dportcomm@xtra.co.nz
FOLK IN THE PARK - FREE Sunday 22nd February, 1pm-4pm, Band Rotunda, Windsor Reserve. Sit back and relax while listening to free live music on Devonport’s stunning waterfront. There will be food and drink for sale or bring a picnic to enjoy. For more info call Hilary ph: 445 2227 or email: realmusic@xtra.co.nz
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Devonport Peninsula Community eNEWS To receive the Devonport Peninsula eNEWS, a monthly email listing of community events, and other community notices, please email us at dportcomm@xtra.co.nz
ATTENTION TO DETAIL 2/6 Kawerau Avenue, Devonport
Proudly supported by
Prepare for a delightful surprise as you enter this spacious, comfortable and light filled three bedroom home. In a peaceful, hidden setting the home has 2 MegaPixels been exquisitely transformed by the clever young owners. Attention to design detail lifts it way beyond 1600x1200 2 MegaPixels the original build, making it both practical and easy to 1600x1200 live in. The generous open plan living and dining space flows easily through bi-folds to a sunny, north-west facing, private deck. The galley kitchen and family bathroom have been renovated and well considered with an emphasis on sustainable design. Fall in love with gorgeous timber textures including customised 2/6 Kawerau Avenue, Devonport storage and polished macrocarpa floors. In zone for 2/6 Kawerau Avenue, Takapuna Grammar. SecureDevonport this unique opportunity!
Auction
Carol Wetzell
027 245 3392 c.wetzell@barfoot.co.nz
Ian Cunliffe
0800 248 521 i.cunliffe@barfoot.co.nz
12pm, Thurs 19 Feb 2015 (unless sold prior)
Auction 12pm, Thurs 19 Feb 2015 (unless sold prior) 28 Northcroft Street, Takapuna 28 Northcroft Street, Takapuna Sat/Sun 12.00 - 12.45pm View Sat/Sun 12.00 - 12.45pm www.bayleys.co.nz/1450365 www.bayleys.co.nz/1450365
View
JenniferKeenan Keenan Jennifer
Paula Morrison Paula Morrison
M 021 021160 1603002 3002 M 021 674 247 M M 021 674 247 B B 09B487 07160716 B 09 09489 4891999 1999 09 487 jennifer.keenan@bayleys.co.nz jennifer.keenan@bayleys.co.nz paula.morrison@bayleys.co.nz paula.morrison@bayleys.co.nz BAYLEYS REAL ESTATE LTD, TAKAPUNA, BAYLEYS UNDER REAL ESTATE TAKAPUNA, LICENSED THE REALTD, ACT 2008.
LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.
www.bayleys.co.nz
BAYLEYS REAL ESTATE LTD, TAKAPUNA, BAYLEYS REAL ESTATE LTD, TAKAPUNA, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.
LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.
Devonport 09 445 2010 | www.barfoot.co.nz 1450365
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so that Athfield Architects could hear the views of a group of 20 senior TGS students. You will be pleased to know that they gave the design a resounding cheer, but did call for more 21stcentury study space. Their report is available in the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board minutes from that time. While he was not invited to the stakeholder representative consultation meetings (primarily because he does not represent any stakeholders), Mr Dykman was more than welcome to attend one of the public consultation meetings, or another one of the eleven rounds of consultation that the council carried out to ensure that a compromise was met across all relevant stakeholders. That way the architects, assuming they managed to stay awake during Mr Dykman’s opening address, could have better achieved the already difficult compromise between heritage groups, Grey Power, the Library Associates, young people, the Devonport community and, most importantly, Mr Dykman himself. With the sad news of Sir Ian Athfield’s death, the new library becomes more important than ever. Good architecture is about context, function and design - a civic pavilion nestled between vast Moreton Bay Figs in an historic seaside village. Brilliant architecture is exciting, controversial, daring. It beguiles some and bemuses others. But its legacy is always tied to those who built it. The Devonport Library will stand as a ‘bizarre edifice’to the brilliance of Sir Ian, and Devonport should be proud to host such a monument to New Zealand architecture. Abraham Coombs • Abridged, Editor
1450365
I am writing to respond to Mr Dykman’s letter dated December 12 in which he suggested that I thought his opinions ought to be restrained. Despite the fact that my mention of him in my letter on the new library dated November 28th was a single tongue-in-cheek comment about the frequency of his letters to the editor, let me make it very clear that I am a firm believer in the importance of free speech. The American jurist Oliver Wendell Holmes gave the example of shouting ‘fire’ in a crowded theatre as one occasion where the freedom of speech must be restrained. It is clear from his judgement that overpraised Justice Holmes had not experienced the pleasure of Mr Dykman’s exceptional letters on topics ranging from cycle lanes to the abhorrent installation of a radar speed sign on a busy school walking route. If Justice Holmes had read even one of Mr Dykman’s letters he would no doubt have developed his jurisprudence very differently indeed. Mr Holmes would probably have given, as an example of a situation where freedom of speech ought to be restrained, situations where one becomes such a tiresome bore that their persistence in having their opinion noted threatens the public’s interest in the media. My concern is that if this publication continues to publish Mr Dykman’s letters, the public may soon lose interest and the Flagstaff’s readership diminish. This would be MegaPixels democracy. a frightful threat to4 Devonport’s 2272x1704 If Mr Dykman is feeling bitter that he was not invited to take part in consultation on the development of the Devonport Library then that is a 4 MegaPixels grievance he should take up with the local board. 2272x1704 If he believes that the Devonport community is behind him then he should put his money where his mouth is and run for public office. I want to respond to one of Mr Dykman’s allegations specially. Early in 2013, I was invited to consult the council on behalf of Takapuna Grammar students because of my position on the TGS board of trustees. In spite of what Mr Dykman calls my ‘confused thinking’. I agree with Mr Dykman that the decision to consult with me alone on the library was ‘ill-founded’. That is why I arranged for the eleventh round of consultation to be held at Takapuna Grammar,