Media Release

7 April, 2008

Planning a community facility

When it comes to planning a community facility who better to ask for input than the community itself?

This is the approach the Waitakere City Council has taken regarding the building of a community facility in the McLaren Park Henderson South (MPHS) area.

Extensive consultation was carried out in the MPHS area, with 10% of the local population surveyed, in a bid to identify the characteristics residents thought were important and should be considered as part of any local facility.

Residents were asked what they would like to see included in the facility, where they would like to see it located and what characteristics they thought should be incorporated into the site.

For example, a designated arts and craft room was frequently mentioned, as was a large multi-use hall space which could accommodate activities as diverse as basketball and badminton to cultural dances and concerts.

The results of the survey were impressive with 62% of residents asking to be further involved in, and kept informed about the project.

Fifty eight per cent of respondents indicated they would like to be personally involved in contributing towards the programmes/services provided at the facility.

Having received the valuable feedback, potential building sites will now be scouted, and draft preliminary designs of the building drawn up within the next six months which will be brought back to the community for comment with hopes of building work initiating before the end of the year.

ENDS

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