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Dr Simon Barclay was re-elected chair of the Matakana Community Group at the annual meeting on November 3.
The Matakana Community Group (MCG) is planning a major fundraising carnival next March after compliance costs killed-off the popular Fruitloop event.The announcement was made at the group’s annual general meeting on November 3, where chairperson Simon Barclay was unchallenged in his re-election bid.
Group member Barbara Souter is spearheading the Notting Hill-style ‘MataCARnival’, which will be a fundraiser for additional parking on the field next to the Matakana School.
Although still to be confirmed, Barbara is planning a three-day event from March 24. It will include a Caribbean-themed carnival in the heart of the village on Saturday March 25 and a motor show at the Matakana Country Park on Sunday March 26.
Plume owners Clyde and Farida Cooper have donated $10,000 to get the carnival up and running.
The MCG is finalising a lease agreement for the proposed car park. Dr Barclay said the group initially thought this would be a simple project, but would now require five years of fundraising.
“We were going to put some metal down and make an instant car park, but now Auckland Council is involved and the project has escalated,” Dr Barclay said.
The group will have to apply for resource consent and the car park will need proper foundations, surfacing and drainage.
The annual meeting was a chance for the group to review ongoing projects.
The group needs to raise $35,000 to pay for all-weather surfacing on the tennis courts at Jubilee Park. Work was expected to start next month and be completed in April next year.
The second pedestrian bridge on Matakana Road, near Tamahunga Drive, has building consent and resource consent is progressing. The community group needs $90,000 for the project, which includes work on the approach path.
Auckland Transport (AT) is planning to resurface Matakana Valley Road next year and the group would like the open drains covered at the same time.
Retired engineer Murray Wallace is liaising with Council and AT.
“We have a plan and we know what needs to be done, but it’s very hard to get these departments together, and almost impossible to get them to take responsibility,” Murray said.
The MCG was also planning a combined Christmas celebration and opening ceremony for the pedestrian bridge over the Matakana River on December 9.
Details are yet to be confirmed, but Katherine Norman from the Matakana School PTA would like children to open the bridge and ride, walk or scooter across after school. A Christmas party will follow with local choirs, performances and catering provided by businesses in the village.
