November 18, 2020
localmatters.co.nz
Your locally-owned FREE Community Newspaper
Inside this issue
An artist’s impression of the controversial sculpture, called ‘Airborne’, expected to be unveiled in Ōrewa this week. This was the only concept released and it’s understood that the final work is slightly different.
Businesses stalled by fire page 9
70 years of surf
pages 29-34
Ōrewa artwork outcry highlights major flaws in selection process Before it even goes up, the sculpture due to be unveiled this week in Ōrewa has stirred up enormous controversy and increased $10,000 in cost. The sculpture replaces a fountain that corroded beyond repair on Moana Reserve, by the beach. It was approved and funded last year by the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board, in its
final term. At the time $160,000 was allocated from an Auckland Council budget specifically to replace assets. However, last week Council’s head of area operations – Community Facilities, Julie Pickering, told the paper that $170,000 was spent. She says $39,000 was spent on investigation and design, project management,
consultation, refurbishment and relocation of seating and removal of the old sculpture. The remaining $131,000 went on construction and installation of the new sculpture. Hundreds of people took to social media recently, following a Hibiscus Matters Facebook post showing the new sculpture. The majority were
concerned about the cost and that it restricts the view of the sea. Many said that this was the first time they’d seen the design and they would have liked to have a say, despite widespread publicity at the time including several stories in this paper and on social media. Consultation continued p2
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