My Account
Warkworth needs improvements
by Romy, 10, a student at Warkworth Primary School
Have you ever been stuck at home with nothing to do except watch another completely useless day drag by? Ever wish you could go into Warkworth township to relieve the boredom? I have! However, to be honest, there are not a lot of options once you’re in there. I believe if we were to make some improvements to Warkworth, this problem of ‘boredom’ could easily be solved. I suggest we could upgrade the wellbeing experiences in our town, offer more ways of getting around, and increase our green spaces. We could change Warkworth from a sleepy little town into the most famous and fascinating spot in New Zealand. It is time for improvement!”
…. We should have a community orchard by the river … we should offer more ways of getting around Warkworth. Walking to places isn’t going to kill you and it’s free travel! …we must plant more native bush, with trees and bushes everywhere they can go, bird feeders scattered around the place, native birds nesting in the treetops, and a heap of new bush walks to top it all off! (Abridged)
Time is running out for anyone interested in completing a survey with their ideas for the Puhinui Warkworth Centre Plan. The survey closes on August 19.
A series of community engagement opportunities have been held over the past few weeks, including school visits and a Sunday afternoon get-together at the Old Masonic Hall.
Harriet Paul, from Community Think, the organisation that has been given the Rodney Local Board contract to deliver the plan, says 85 students and teachers at Warkworth Primary took part in a Workshop in the Box event.
“They loved it,” she says. “One of the teachers commented that they had used the whole experience to inspire persuasive writing and students were more engaged than ever, so are obviously personally and passionately invested in their hometown and its future.”
She says at the Masonic Hall event, speakers provided ideas to think about.
“We would like to thank the Warkworth Library, Girl Guides for providing kai, and musicians Andy and Lou,” she said.
“Speakers landscape architect Clynt White, senior lecturer of architecture and planning Bill McKay, local Donna Wyllie, Restore Rodney East’s Tim Armitage, and Delma O’Kane from Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust all shared their knowledge, experiences and aspirations for the future of Puhinui Warkworth.
“A wall of ideas came to life throughout the day as people posted their ideas and wishes for Warkworth.”
Paul says there are still wish boxes around town where people can drop their ideas.
The next stage of this project will involve collating the feedback contributed, and then the urban design team Motu Design will work with this, as well as technical information on the town.
“We can then come back to all of those who have been involved so far to make meaning from what we’ve heard.
“We hope everyone will keep coming on this journey with us to make a Puhinui Warkworth Centre Plan that reflects the aspirations of mana whenua and the community for the future of the town centre.”
