Media Release
12 August 2005

More time for deliberation on Torere

At last night’s Community Development Committee, Councillors voted to hold a workshop to enable further debate and in-depth consideration of the rebuilding of Te Whare o Torere in the Emilia Maud Nixon Garden of Memories, Howick.

Many councillors saw the detailed plans and costing options for the rebuild for the first time last night. In light of this, they unanimously agreed that, in order to make an informed recommendation to full Council, they would need greater deliberation and debate than was possible at the Committee meeting.

The workshop will take place on 24 August.

Cllr John Walker, Chair of the Community Development Committee says:

“The Community Board has made their recommendation and now Councillors must make the ultimate decision on the plans for the rebuilding of the Torere.

As councillors, we are fully accountable to our residents and ratepayers. A significant amount of money is involved and this is a decision that cannot be taken without in-depth scrutiny of the proposals, something that councillors have not yet had opportunity to do. The workshop will give us that opportunity.

While all parties are keen for these key decisions to be taken, it would be irresponsible and unfair to those stakeholders, and our ratepayers, to make this decision without due deliberation of all available information.”

Copies of the proposed designs are displayed in both Howick Library and Howick Information Centre.

ENDS

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