Otahuhu community and recreation facilities

Background research

History of research and council resolutions

1997 - Community and recreation facilities needs assessment for Tamaki and Otahuhu.
This research was based on analysing the community and recreation needs and involved extensive consultation with the local community. The council resolved that a new recreation centre was needed as a high priority, to provide for the needs of youth in particular.

1999 - Otahuhu Recreation Centre feasibility study.
Identified the best location for developing a new recreation facility incorporating a youth drop-in community centre was on Fairburn Reserve in Mason Avenue.

2000 - Otahuhu swimming pool investigation.
Identified that a swimming pool was a high priority need in Otahuhu. The council resolved the best location was Fairburn Reserve located in association with the proposed recreation and youth centre.

January 2002 - Otahuhu Library and review.
Concluded that the current library building and location were limiting the provision and development of library services in Otahuhu. Community Services Committee decided that further research was required to enable the council to make a decision on future of the library/community centre. The committee resolved:

That the committee supports investigation of library needs in Otahuhu and synergies between the library and community centre, with a view to identifying possible approaches for addressing the identified needs and use issues:

service delivery

asset development

asset location

November 2002 - Otahuhu community facilities feasibility and cost-benefit study.
The purpose of this research was to analyse the development options, costs and benefits for the library, community centre, recreation/youth and aquatic facilities in Otahuhu. The benefits of developing all four facilities in one precinct on Fairburn Reserve were clearly identified. The council resolved via resolutions of the Community Services Committee and Recreation and Events Committee in November 2002 to:

Support in principle the concept of planning for five facilities (recreation, youth, aquatic, library and community centre) to be located on Fairburn Reserve, Mason Avenue on the basis:

that the library will be developed on Fairburn Reserve as Stage 3 to the multi-purpose facility (stage one recreation/youth and stage two aquatic); and

that no commitment is made at present to relocating the community centre.

2003 - Otahuhu recreation precinct master planning and designation process.
Community consultation undertaken as input into the master plan for the site. The master plan is essentially a blue-print to show where the facilities will be developed over time and to confirm the function, layout and size of each facility. Consultation and statutory process for the designation were also undertaken.

February 2004 - Master plan approved by council and designation confirmed.

June 2004 - Detailed planning for the Otahuhu recreation and youth centre started.

May 2005 - Construction began on the recreation and youth centre.

March 2006 - The new recreation and youth centre opened.

Summary

Auckland City Council has investigated the need for new community and recreation facilities in Otahuhu and this has shown:

Current situation	Solution
The old recreation centre was old, structurally inadequate, did not meet community needs and had difficult access.	A new recreation centre combined with a youth drop-in was completed in March 2006.
Otahuhu has no public swimming pool and only a small number of school pools. Research has shown the distance to neighbouring community pools is a barrier for some residents. The population in and around Otahuhu is also growing which is increasing the demand for aquatic facilities and intensifying the need for a dedicated swimming pool in Otahuhu.	A small aquatic centre has been confirmed as the second highest need.
The existing library in Otahuhu has low patronage compared to other community libraries in Auckland City. Located on the ground floor of the old Otahuhu Borough offices and council chambers, the library is unable to increase or update its resources and services because of severe space constraints. At this stage the tenants above the library are not affected. The tenants will be fully consulted as part of the planning for the new library	A new library which is larger, open and inviting and provides separate areas for children, teenagers, and adults as well as reading and studying, is required.
The existing Otahuhu community centre has only two meeting rooms, an office space and town hall. It is possible that the community centre will need to be larger to provide for a growing population. More research is required to determine the best location for the community centre.	To plan for the future, we need to decide on the future location for the Otahuhu Community Centre. There are two options: option one - the community centre should stay in its current location and expand into the vacated library space option two - the community centre should move to the Otahuhu Recreation Precinct sometime in the future, up to 10 years from now.

The Otahuhu population is also growing in size and diversity. The area needs dedicated facilities to meet the needs and demands of its growing community.

Reviewed June 2007