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An artist’s impression of the Community and Activity Centre.
Mahurangi Presbyterian Church has finally secured a resource consent from Auckland Council to progress plans to build a $10.5 million Community and Activity Centre in Warkworth.
The new centre will be located by the Mahurangi River on one hectare of land on Mansel Drive, across the road from the Summerset Falls Retirement Village and behind Warkworth Toyota.
A motion to proceed with the build was approved unanimously by church members on June 30. Groundwork is scheduled to begin at the start of the earthworks season on October 1.
It was hoped to start earthworks in October last year, but senior pastor Nick McLennan says delays in securing a resource consent held things up.
The first stage of the building, costing $6.7 million, will include an Activity Centre, incorporating a multi-sports facility, plus a Meeting/Function area capable of seating 305 people with an adjoining café and commercial kitchen.
In addition, there will be storage and distribution facilities for Foodlink, Warkworth’s combined churches’ food bank, as well as meeting rooms and offices. There will be more than 100 spaces in the on-site carpark.
Pastor McLennan says the building’s facilities are intended for both church and community use, with many sporting organisations eagerly awaiting the construction of the multi-sports facility.
Consultation has taken place with several North Harbour sports organisations and Auckland Council to ensure as many sports and activities as possible can use the complex.
In addition to sports, the Activity Centre will provide for after-school children and youth programmes and cultural events. Meanwhile, the Meeting/Function area will be used for weekly church services and could host the popular annual Pasifika Festival.
“This will give us the opportunity to better meet the needs of our wider community seven days a week.” Pastor McLennan says.
Stage 2 of the centre will include an additional 450-seat auditorium with full sound and lighting capabilities and a dedicated chapel.
Further funding of $3.8m is required to commence stage 2 and the building team is confident the community will rally to the cause once construction starts.
A stand-alone childcare facility has also been designed and approved, and will be completed as the opportunity arises.
So far, most of the funding for the project has come from members of the church and the local community. In addition, charitable grants have been received from Foundation North ($300k), Internal
Affairs Lottery Division ($400k), Auckland City Council Sport and Recreation Department ($785k) and the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand (300k).
Building team spokesperson Gary Caldwell says almost 90 per cent of the funds for the first stage of the building have been secured. The church is seeking further donations as the project gets underway.
The project will be managed by the church led by Kevin Pyle, of Kevin Pyle Builders.
Mr Pyle says the decision to manage the project in-house was made to keep as much work local as possible and support the community.
“We believe there are many businesses out there who may wish to provide services and product at extremely favourable rates in support of the project,” he says.
