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Once the decision to lease the land was publicly notified, the lessees of a building on a nearby site, the No. 5 (Rodney) Squadron Branch of the NZ Air Training Corps, raised an objection, saying it had been left out of the loop, although its interest in the site was long established and well known.
“The options offered to the Men’s Shed are the same as the Squadron has requested during numerous discussions with Auckland Council,” the No 5 Squadron’s submission says.
The Silverdale United Rugby Football Club is also interested in the land, which is adjacent to its grounds.
The Air Cadets’ objections were aired at a hearing last month, on May 23 – the panel was made up of local board deputy chair Greg Sayers and member Gary Holmes. The Rugby Club hopes to make a presentation to the Local Board on the same issue.
Rugby Club director of finance, Chris Carter says the club is looking at the area as a whole and how it could be used going forward.
Hibiscus Men’s Shed Charitable Trust chair Stuart Johnston is already extending the hand of friendship, saying he is happy to talk with other clubs with a view to coming to an agreement or compromise.
He says the Men’s Shed is finding the hold up with the lease frustrating, as they are ready to go with indicative costs for the building of the Men’s Shed. The next stage would be to lodge a resource consent application.
Local board deputy chair Greg Sayers, who sat on last month’s hearing, says that the board is keen to have the services provided by the Men’s Shed introduced to the Hibiscus Coast, while also wanting to help the Air Training Corps fast-track the location of a permanent and suitable home.
A decision as to whether the lease to the Men’s Shed proceeds, or not, is expected to be made by the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board at its meeting this week (June 15) , see below.
Green light for Men’s Shed
The Men’s Shed has been given the go-ahead to establish a shed in Silverdale War Memorial Park.
A lease over Council owned land in the park was agreed to by the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board, but then opposed by the lessees of the adjacent building, the No. 5 (Rodney) Squadron of the Air Training Corps who have an interest in the same piece of land.
Following a hearing on May 23, a panel of local board deputy chair Greg Sayers and member Gary Holmes recommended proceeding with the Men’s Shed’s lease.
At the same time, the panel suggested that the local board and council staff work with the Air Training Corps to help it find a suitable site for its rapidly growing membership.
At its meeting on June 15, the local board accepted the panel’s recommendation and voted to proceed with the lease for the Hibiscus Men’s Shed Trust.
In the meantime, the Silverdale United Rugby Football Club has submitted a report suggesting that a multi-use facility be developed in the park.
