An indicative business case has confirmed the need for a Manurewa community hub.
Manurewa Local Board chair Matt Winiata says members accepted a finding confirming the need for a hub in the town centre, and that there was a robust case for investment.
“We have endorsed the development of a detailed business case for the provision of such a hub, based on a preferred option that would fit it and library within the existing library and Citizens Advice Bureau space.
“Clearly that would mean redesigning the space to provide integrated library and community centre services as a new community hub for our people.
“The indicative cost is about $5.3 million. We have just over $3.1m set aside for the project, although it could be done in stages.
“We support identifying additional funding sources, including through asset sales, although that would need to be carefully considered to prevent losing something we need for our future communities.”
Winiata says members want a co-design approach undertaken with current library staff, mana whenua, stakeholders and the community.
“The current CAB operating space needs to be part of the redesign so that the CAB is provided with a space to suit its needs in the new hub.
“We have also asked that the views of young people are sought during the hub’s design to identify the services and spaces they will need.”
This current Manurewa Library and CAB space is about 1300 square metres.
A capital budget of $2.6 million for a new community centre in Manurewa was allocated in the 2015-2025 Long-term Plan for the financial year 2019/2020. That budget has been carried over each year but has remained unused.
A 2016 report, Manurewa and Manukau central: Community Needs Assessment, identified gaps in council’s community space provision in central Manurewa, noting a high need for space where youth could come together for activities after school and at weekends.
The population in the area the hub would serve is about 14,000, about half of them under 29 and almost all living in high deprivation and with a median annual income $6000 less on average than across Auckland.
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