AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL

MEDIA RELEASE

2 August 2007

Arts focus confirmed for major city park

The Arts, Culture and Recreation Committee has endorsed a masterplan to develop Monte Cecilia Park as a significant city park with an arts focus.

The decision follows public consultation on the draft masterplan developed by Auckland City Council for the 12.3ha Hillsborough park.

Following a public exhibition and stakeholder presentations, more than 100 feedback forms were received in response to the draft masterplan, with the majority supporting the approach outlined.

The plan proposes developing the park in accordance with principles established during public consultation for:

• a citywide destination
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• a slice of living history
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• a peaceful retreat
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• a place to experience arts and culture.
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The plan would see the development of a visual arts centre and cafe in the Pah Homestead, and a sculpture trail in the park.

It will also focus on improving access and restoring the park’s formal gardens, as well as incorporating high quality features to help inform people about the park’s heritage.

Open parkland will be retained for passive recreation and events will be in keeping with the character of the park and sensitive to the surrounding neighbourhood.

The chairperson of the Arts, Culture and Recreation Committee, Councillor Penny Sefuiva, is pleased there’s been strong public support

“This locks in a vision for the future development of this very important park and means we can now get on with the work to make that vision a reality.

“It’s an exciting approach that will see the park’s many opportunities for passive recreation retained and enhanced by plans to create the arts centre and cafe.

“Monte Cecilia is a very special park and I firmly believe this plan will encourage many Aucklanders to enjoy and celebrate this wonderful and historic open space.”

Work is already underway to restore the Pah Homestead and this will be accelerated to prevent further deterioration. A three-year restoration programme will enable earlier public access. Work to replace the homestead roof and refurbish its exterior joinery and facade is now complete.

The refurbishment of the ornate exterior veranda will begin later this year. This will be followed by design work to further upgrade the homestead, including drainage works, fire protection and seismic strengthening of the internal structure.

The homestead restoration work will continue in tandem with the overall park development, which will be staged over five years. This work will include creating trails and lookouts and developing the homestead gardens.

A study to test the demand for the visual arts centre and sculpture park will begin late this year, and will determine the type of arts centre and associated facilities that are appropriate for the site. This detailed study will inform future plans for these facilities.

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