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After years of consultations, deputations, needs assessments and reports, a draft masterplan for the future of Wellsford’s Centennial Park has been drawn up by Auckland Council.
Sports teams and clubs have endured increasing frustration over the past decade or so, as courts and facilities have steadily deteriorated – mainly due to drainage and maintenance issues – forcing some sports to abandon the park for other venues.
Over the years, more than a dozen different action plans and study papers have been drawn up by various councils and organisations, but little real change or improvements have actually taken place.
Now, after yet more rounds of consultation with the public and park users, Council has come up with a draft masterplan that was approved to go out for feedback in November at Rodney Local Board’s meeting last Wednesday, September 21.
The plan, drawn up by Auckland city engineering consultancy Jacobs New Zealand, sets out an extensive range of possible improvements and upgrades to the 16-hectare park that could be implemented in the short term – one to five years – or long term – five to 10 years-plus.
These include planning for a new multi-use facility for existing users and clubs, refurbishing toilets and changing rooms, re-purposing two or three of the tennis courts for netball, and marking out some courts for more than one use, such as tennis and basketball.
The draft masterplan also outlines the possibility of upgrading playground facilities, installing a pump track and/or climbing wall and improving pedestrian and cycle access.
However, every suggestion, whether long or short term, comes under the heading ‘Potential key moves’, which essentially means that, even if approved by the Local Board and Council, they will still require funding, project planning, designing, and all necessary consent and tender processes to proceed.
After the draft masterplan has gone out to public consultation in November and December, the key findings are scheduled to be presented to Rodney Local Board in February, after which the final version of the Centennial Park masterplan is due to be adopted by the Board in March or April.
“Following the adoption of the masterplan by Rodney Local Board, staff will work with the local board to identify priority key moves to include in the local board work programme,” a Jacobs NZ spokesperson said in the draft.
Centennial Park Master Plan 2022
