The design for an extensive upgrade of the East Coast Bays Community Centre has got the green light from the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board, and construction will start later this year.
The fifty-year-old building located at the Village Green in Browns Bay, is home to Heart of the Bays, Plunket, the Citizens Advice Bureau, the local board office, and hosts a wide range of community activities.
Board chair Alexis Poppelbaum says the board is funding the work as it’s essential to bring the building up to standard and make it safe for the community.
"The community centre is a place where people come together, and it offers a wide range of services and spaces that really help build a strong sense of community.
“This project focuses on making important, long-term upgrades to the building so that everyone can keep enjoying it for cultural activities, art, events and recreation for years to come."
The centre was assessed as requiring additional structural strengthening following the completion of a detailed seismic assessment. The joinery is old and most of the centre’s windows have been sealed shut.
A survey found asbestos materials throughout the building, including in ceilings, gutters, façade panels, and the roof. Construction will include structural upgrades, new joinery and windows, and asbestos removal.
Poppelbaum says, “Removing the asbestos now sets up the centre for long term use as it means easier maintenance and no roadblocks for future upgrades. Replacing the windows across all three levels will make the building fully operational for our community."
The comprehensive upgrade of $7.7 million uses the centre’s existing footprint and includes:
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a main entrance with a central reception
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connecting the CAB with the rest of the building
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a separate Plunket Clinic with a designated toilet
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safety improvements across the building
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an improved layout and access to the lift, toilets, kitchens and meeting rooms
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a lift upgrade
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accessible storage space
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air conditioning/ heating and ventilation.
The fitout also includes new flooring, ceilings, lighting, kitchen cabinets, interior doors, painting, a glass wall for the meeting room and new roof on the three-storey building.
Poppelbaum says the local board and community would like the back of the community centre to better connect with the library, leisure centre, seniors' hall, and community crèche.
"These groups are already working together and supporting each other, so it just makes sense to improve the connections between them and the centre. This can be explored more in the next phase of the design,” she says.
Council staff will stay in touch with everyone onsite throughout the project and help sort out temporary accommodation while construction is happening.
The next steps are to consult with the community and iwi on the final designs before progressing to building consents, procurement, and construction.
Construction is expected to take 15 months and start in October 2025 but does depend on consent and tender processes.
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