The eagerly awaited, multi-million-dollar renovation of the Mahurangi East Community Centre is complete, and the doors are open again to the Snells Beach community.
Over 12 months, the community centre underwent significant repairs to address widespread issues with weathertightness, earthquake resilience, structural deficiencies and fire safety.
Rodney Local Board Chair Brent Bailey says the centre is a unique facility as the only council-owned indoor sports venue in Rodney. It's home to the library and is a busy hub for local groups, sports clubs, schools, and the wider community. The centre is also available for community hire.
“Having the centre fully renovated is a huge milestone for the community. This major upgrade has futureproofed the 40-year-old building giving it a fresh, modern feel. It’s now weather-tight, easier to maintain, and the library has a much better heating and air conditioning system.”
Mahurangi East Library Manager Pip Stocking says her team are thrilled to once again welcome their enthusiastic and supportive community back inside.
“The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with visitors commenting on how fresh the space looks—and how lovely it smells! The library team has truly felt the warmth and appreciation from our loyal customers, making the journey back into our building incredibly rewarding,” Pip says.
“We’re now looking forward to restarting our regular programmes and launching some exciting new ones. We remain committed to working closely with our community to offer meaningful experiences and events for all ages.”
The centre offers something for everyone with youth meet-ups, the community café, book club, seniors’ mornings, and a range of sports like pickleball, basketball, netball, and more.
A versatile space, the centre is available for hire, suitable for both active and community-focused events — including indoor sports, recreational activities, meetings, and more. Bookings can be made through the council’s online system.
The project cost around $4.1 million and included strengthening the building, replacing the roof and outside walls, installing new doors and windows, repainting inside and out, putting in new floors, updating the toilets, upgrading the electrical systems, and improving the heating and ventilation.
A big new feature at the centre is the solar power system, which is expected to save over $5,000 a year on electricity and pay for itself in just over eight years. Any extra power can go back into the grid.
Other upgrades include better security. People hiring the centre will get card access to just the parts they’re using, and more security cameras have been added to help protect the building.
Bailey says, “These recent upgrades mean the building is in great shape, built to last and ready for years of community use.”
The community will come together to host a family-friendly Matariki celebration at the new centre in June. The event will feature children’s games and activities with the library and Rodney Youth Project, Hungerball with Out and About Auckland, a traditional hāngi, and plenty more fun organised by the local clubs and groups that use the centre.
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