Work starts on $10.5 million Warkworth community centre

An artist’s impression of the centre.

Phase 1 of the project includes an Activity Centre and Meeting/Function area.

Mahurangi Presbyterian Church secured a building consent last month to begin construction of its $10.5 million community and activity centre in Warkworth.

There are three stages of the build and the consent applies to Stage 1 – the construction of the building’s outer shell, activity centre and meeting/function area.

The activity centre will incorporate a multi-sport facility, while the meeting area will be capable of seating 305 people and have an adjoining café and commercial kitchen.

A later stage will include an auditorium that will seat 450 people.

The church is currently talking to a large number of local contractors and wants to use as many local tradies as possible for the construction.  

Senior pastor Nick McLennan said last week that earthworks were complete and laying of the foundation should start any day.

It is hoped the first stage of the project will be completed by December next year.

However, pastor McLennan noted the building industry was unpredictable at the moment, due to the difficulty of getting supplies into the country due to Covid-19 and this may introduce delays.

Fundraising campaign manager Brian Dangerfield said the project was about 90 per cent funded.

“We’ve had tremendous support from the congregation, the community and external organisations,” he said.

“We are on track, but there is still more to do.”

The building will benefit the Mahu Vision Community Trust by providing larger and more user-friendly spaces to accommodate and deliver their programmes and services. It will also provide space for the local food bank, children and youth activities and large community events.

The church says the multi-sport facility will likely be booked by Auckland Council for 40 hours a week for community sporting activities.  

The new centre will be located by the Mahurangi River on one hectare of land at 22 Mansel Drive, across the road from the Summerset Falls Retirement Village and behind Warkworth Toyota.