2
Mahurangi Matters
August 1, 2014
contacts Issue 254
General enquiries: Call 425 9068 PO Box 701, Warkworth 0941 17 Neville St, Warkworth 0941 Editor: Jannette Thompson 021 263 4423 editor@localmatters.co.nz Reporter: George Driver 425 9068 news@localmatters.co.nz Advertising: Cathy Busbridge 022 029 1899 advertising@localmatters.co.nz Shona Mackinnon 022 029 1897 local@localmatters.co.nz Digital Editor: Cathy Aronson 425 9068 online@localmatters.co.nz
Mahurangi Matters is a locally owned publication, circulated twice a month to more than 13,000 homes and businesses. Views expressed in Mahurangi Matters are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission of the editor is prohibited.
localmatters.co.nz
Town hall restoration He hopes the building will re-open in September next year, but this won’t be known for sure until tenders have been awarded. While Council money will be used to cover the building costs, the community’s contribution will be spent on the fit-out including the removal of the old kitchen along Neville Street and construction of a new one, provision of a new rehearsal space and retractable seating. On July 16, a meeting was held to start gathering fundraising ideas. Tracey said she believed that if the community could come up with at least $200,000, then the balance could be raised from major funding sources such as lotteries and Vodafone. A Warkworth Town Hall Restoration trust was being formed to spearhead the campaign. “Somehow we have to make this community see what an asset this hall is going to be and to realise it’s potential,” she said. “We need to create some excitement right across the whole community because this hall will be for everyone. Even in the sad old state it was in, under Rodney District Council, it was still the most used hall in Rodney.” Fundraising ideas suggested on the night included a Glory Days event on the Mahurangi riverbank, interest free loans, ‘buy a brick/seat’ sponsorship, Kowhai Festival stall and raffle, youth concerts, walkathon, bucket brigade at
from page 1
the Hill Street intersection on Labour Weekend, 48-hour film festival, a Jane Gifford event, a Helensville horse trek and a magic cards tournament. Several young people attended the meeting and were keen to be involved. Tracey said she would like to identify ideas that had the potential to pull in funds from outside the Mahurangi area. “We all know that this community is constantly being asked to put their hands in their pockets for many good causes so it would be good to tap in to some outside donations.” One of the first organisations to make a donation was Warkworth Music which pledged $5000. A project launch will be held on September 14. The town hall is a Category 1 heritage building with the NZ Historic Places Trust, recognising its now-rare hollow stoneware block construction and its significance in the social history of Warkworth. It was closed, and its tenants evicted, in March last year due to concerns about its structural safety. Its many problems included a leaky roof, a failure to meet seismic requirements and concerns about its fire risk. The hall has since remained vacant (see Opinion p4). Fundraising ideas can be emailed to warkworthtownhall@gmail.com
updatesonline
localmatters.co.nz/Features/ TownHall
WANT TO BE WARM? We supply, install & service Heat Pumps
Derek Cuthell Owner
• HEATS • COOLS • DEHUMIDIFIES
Motorway from page 1
pedestrians increased. In response, it set conditions around the use of the intersection by construction traffic, restricting it during peak times on weekdays, weekends, and at holiday times. The report also stated that while it applauded the proposed intersection improvements which will be constructed over summer, it urged the NZTA to look at further improvements over the next three to four years, in consultation with Auckland Transport. NZTA acting highway manager, Steve Mutton, says the draft decision is great news and an exciting and important step towards improving transport connections between Auckland and Northland. “Whangarei to Auckland is one of New Zealand’s key transport routes, and investigations on how to continue improving and securing this corridor are ongoing, including for the Wellsford to Warkworth section.” The applicant and other parties now have 20 working days to make comments on minor or technical aspects of the report. The Board of Inquiry was chaired by retired High Court Judge John Priestley. The other four members of the board were Michael Parsonson, Alan Withy, Bronwyn Hunt and David Chandler. For full coverage of the decision, go to www.localmatters.co.nz
• Accredited Installers • Quality Workmanship • All Electric Work • $50,000 Workmanship Warranty • Free Consultation & Quotes
www.airconnorthauckland.co.nz
Phone 422 3598 Mobile 021 496 358 WARKWORTH BASED
energywise™ &5.$%$ 02/'2!--%
KITCHENS | BATHROOMS | LAUNDRIES | ENTERTAINMENT UNITS | WARDROBES & OFFICES
Carl James CABINETMAKERS
Chris or Sue 09 423 7229 Email: carljames@ihug.co.nz PO Box 43 Matakana
RENOVATIONS & REMODELS DESIGN BUILD INSTALL From your design or ours, we can work with you, to provide cost effective solutions for your individual requirements. We can come to you, free consultations covering Auckland to Mangawhai