Appeal delays Birkenhead Library
July 21, 2006

An appeal to the Environment Court about the plan change, which would allow Birkenhead Library and Civic Centre to be re-built on Nell Fisher Reserve, will delay the project by months.

North Shore City library services manager, Geoff Chamberlain, is disappointed there has been a last minute appeal to plan change 14.

"It causes an unnecessary delay to a project and a serious inconvenience to the people of Birkenhead and nearby businesses. It deprives them of a much-needed new library for even longer," says Mr Chamberlain.

"There has been a library on Nell Fisher Reserve for more than 50 years and it's the ideal place for it, as well as other community facilities such as Plunket rooms and the Citizens Advice Bureau."

Following community consultation in May, independent commissioners decided to allow the re-zoning of most of the land from recreation 2 to special purpose 9, community use.

The plan change also almost doubled the size of the recreation 2 zoning at the corner of the site at the intersection of Rawene Rd and Hinemoa St, to retain more public open space.

North Shore City councillors will consider the implications of the appeal at the regulatory committee meeting on August 3.

"In the meantime, the old Birkenhead Library building has been demolished and Nell Fisher Reserve fenced off for public safety, and the temporary library premises remain at Birkenhead Leisure Centre," says Mr Chamberlain.

"The area office, Citizens Advice Bureau and Highbury Plunket are also all still working out of temporary premises, which is a far from an ideal situation."

ENDS

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