After more than six months of patiently waiting for the next steps in the realisation of the whole site civic open space at 254 Ponsonby Road – aka Ponsonby Park – we are delighted to have some defined timelines and processes to report.
There is now a dedicated council officer assigned to Ponsonby Park and because the whole site civic open space at 254 Ponsonby Road is so advanced in its planning, it is near the front of the OLI queue.
W-aitemata Local Board liaison staff members have already met with the officer and have run him through the entire history of our park, from beginning to now. We’re pleased to report that he’s a very experienced officer and absolutely understands the Community-led Design process and the LandLAB Park+ concept design that came from it.
The Ponsonby Park OLI now requires detailed design and consents. To progress these, a business case (providing costs to deliver and to maintain the preferred LandLAB Park+ concept design) will be undertaken. Requests for funding will then be made through council’s ‘Finance & Performance’ committee.
The Ponsonby Park project timeline is provided below. We expect groundwork to commence on site in July 2020 – which is in one year. Brilliant!
Stage 1
During the period 1 July 2019 - 30 June 2020:
Detailed business case, reports to W-aitemata Local Board, and the ‘Finance & Performance’ committee. Detailed design, consents and physical works procurement.
During the period 1 July 2020 – 30 June 2021:
Physical work proposed to commence on site.
It is intended that a ‘whole of site’ development approach will be undertaken for the detailed business case, detailed design and consents. This is a practical requirement as the development is being realised in two stages and therefore needs to be carefully coordinated and aligned.
Stage 1 of the development will be delivered first and will provide the essential elements of the civic space including:
• Landscaping.
• Repurposing the existing forecourt canopy structure to provide a space for markets and events.
• Installation of new public toilet facilities.
Funding for Stage 1 is earmarked to come from the Auckland ‘Long-term Plan’ allocation.
Stage 2 includes:
• Repurposing the existing buildings.
• Improvements to the surrounding streetscape.
The delivery timeline for Stage 2 will be dependent upon the provision of funding and the W-aitemata Local Board is already looking at options for this.
The Community-led Design group has secured continued representation and involvement in each stage of the process. The W-aitemata Local Board is committed to having us fully involved with each step, which they see as being realistic and wholly appropriate, as well as being well understood within council. This continued representation will enable us to have first-hand and timely updates to share with the community. How this will be structured is currently being determined and we look forward to our regular meetings with council staff and the project manager commencing soon. We’ll keep you informed.
Everyone involved in the process to realise ‘Ponsonby Park’ is keen for it to happen as soon as possible.
‘Ponsonby Park’ is now officially underway. We look forward to the next part of the journey and work starting on-site this time next year. Ponsonby Park – bring it on! (JENNIFER WARD)
For more information or to contact us, see our webpage: www.254ponsonbyrd.org.nz Or our Facebook page: Ponsonby Park.
* The LandLAB design for Ponsonby Park won the international ‘World Architecture News – Future Civic Category’ award in November 2018.