Concept plans for a major upgrade of Molley Green Reserve in Waikōwhai received strong feedback at a Puketāpapa Local Board community forum.
The local board wants to hear what local people think of the plan, which is being developed by Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities as part of its overall housing development in the Puketāpapa area.
“Molley Green Reserve has been at the heart of the Waikowhai community for many years and will continue to play a vital role for the neighbourhood during the Kāinga Ora redevelopment and beyond. Community input to this space is vital to making it work,” says local board chair Julie Fairey.
Enhancement of the Molley Green Reserve has been identified as important to support the proposed strategic growth in the neighbourhood. The need to improve Molley Green Reserve and the aspirations to daylight Te Auaunga through the reserve have been on Auckland Council, Healthy Waters and the Local Board’s radar for more than a decade. The work Kāinga Ora are doing in the neighbourhood provides opportunities to build on these aspirations for Waikōwhai.
Molley Green Reserve is an existing neighbourhood park situated in the heart of the Waikōwhai neighbourhood and a green open space with mature trees nestled among residential properties.
The reserve currently provides flood detention for the neighbourhood and community infrastructure including a children’s playground, basketball court and kick about areas.
Recently, the local community have established a food forest and community gardens (Tā Tātou Māra Kai) within the reserve managed by Friends of Molley Green and Whenua Warriors.
Local Boards in Auckland also make decisions related to local parks in their areas. The aim of the redevelopment of Molley Green Reserve is to enhance the existing community infrastructure to ensure the reserve can be used by the community all year round while improving existing flood mitigation and detention capabilities.
Working together the Puketāpapa Local Board and Kāinga Ora along with mana whenua representatives, Auckland Council Parks, Healthy Waters, Auckland Transport, Isthmus and Piritahi have to produce a concept design for the redevelopment of Molley Green Reserve. Kāinga Ora also undertook engagement with the community and received valuable feedback and insights that have influenced the overall design.
“While Kāinga Ora are developing the plan it is ultimately the local board’s responsibility as landowner to ensure the upgrade of Molley Green Reserve meets our community’s needs for now and the future. We’re particularly excited to naturalise this portion of Te Auaunga Oakley Creek and it was wonderful to see strong local support for that aspect of the proposal in particular,” says chair Fairey.
An opportunity to have their views heard was welcomed by those attending the online forum. Feedback included preferences on protecting the park by ensuring rubbish was appropriately disposed of and keeping the park inclusive for all, including those with or without pets.
The proposed concept plan design includes features to help people socialise and unwind in an accessible open green space and includes:
- A new bike track
- Improvements to play areas
- A new stormwater basin
- A flat kick- about space for play and events like Molley Green Day
- Barbecues for picnics and gathering areas and;
- creating a timber boardwalk over the daylighted Te Auaunga stream.
Next steps
- June 2022 – Puketāpapa Local Board to consider community feedback.
- June or July 2022 - Proposed Molley Green concept plan to be on local board business agenda for approval.
Check out Friends of Molley Green for volunteer opportunities.
