Media Release
Councillor Cathy Casey

Puketepapa Board members-elect Julie Fairey and Michael Wood
For Immediate Release

17 October 2010

Call to Oppose Monte Cecilia Plan Changes

Councillor Cathy Casey and two members of the newly elected Puketepapa Local Board - Julie Fairey and Michael Wood - are calling for the public to oppose plan changes which they say, will seal the fate of Monte Cecilia School and turn the TSB Wallace Arts Centre into an isolated white elephant.

Private plan change 264 by the Catholic Diocese of Auckland relates to rezoning the land at the site of St John Vianney Parish church at 317 Hillsborough Road to allow a new school to be built.

Cr Cathy Casey says “Auckland ratepayers are footing the estimated $30m bill for this “private” plan change, including paying for all the legal and planning costs of the plan change as well as the cost of the substantial earthworks on the boggy site and the entire school re-build and the demolition of the old school. In addition ratepayers are stumping up for a new church hall for St John Vianney Parish and compensating the Parish for temporary loss of facilities and earning. To use $30m of ratepayers’ money to demolish and rebuild a much loved and well-functioning school is a travesty.”

Public Plan Change 294 is to rezone land at Monte Cecilia Park from Residential to Open Space.

Julie Fairey says “The effect of this plan change will be to prevent the win-win solution asked for by the Monte Cecilia school community to relocate some of the school buildings and stay on the Monte Cecilia Park site. This option has never been properly investigated by Auckland City Council. Having a lively passionate educational community nearby can only be beneficial to the TSB Arts Centre.”

Michael Wood concludes “Repositioning and developing the school on the existing site would save the school and a huge bill $30m for Auckland’s ratepayers. It would also be better for the security and profile of the TSB Wallace Arts Centre to have a vibrant and busy school operating close by than to have it turn into an isolated white elephant on the hill that few people can find and even fewer visit.”

ENDS.

NOTE: Submissions on both plans have to be received by the Council by Monday, 15 November 2010. Find out how to make a submission here: http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/news/notices/201010/17/n01.asp