October 28, 2005

Plan change for Birkenhead Library land

North Shore City Council will be pursuing a plan change so that the much-needed new Birkenhead Library and Civic Centre can be built on Nell Fisher Reserve.

Construction of the larger library was to begin on the site this year, but the council's application for consent was turned down by independent commissioners primarily because of the land's zoning.

After considering a range of options, councillors decided today to go ahead with the plan change to re-zone the site to special purpose 9, community use.

"It was the current zoning of parts of the council-owned site as recreation 2 and business 2 that did not fit in with the library and civic centre proposal," says community services and parks committee chairwoman, Margaret Miles.

"But Nell Fisher Reserve has now been confirmed as being the most appropriate site. There has been a library there for more than 50 years, and proposed plan change 14 will be publicly notified," she says.

Recreation 2 zoning will be retained at the tip of the site at the intersection of Rawene Rd and Hinemoa St and the big trees, memorial and parks benches retained.

North Shore library services manager, Geoff Chamberlain, says that in the meantime library services continue as usual, just at a different location.

"The library is now at our Birkenhead Leisure Centre, the area office and Citizens Advice Bureau at the Rawene Centre, and Highbury Plunket is operating from Glenfield Plunket," he says. On Wednesdays and Fridays people can take a free bus from the ASB Bank bus stop in Birkenhead Ave down to the temporary library. It leaves at 10am, 10.30am and 11am, and returns at 10.25am, 10.55am and 11.55am.

Proposed plan change 14 will be publicly notified next month. After the hearing the building design will be revised.

Construction of the new Birkenhead Library and Civic Centre is expected to being in September or October 2006.

ENDS

© Scoop Media