Media release
2 December 2011

Westgate civic project gets green light from board

A major multi-million dollar Auckland Council civic project at Westgate is a step closer with developed designs for a new library and town square approved by the Henderson-Massey Local Board yesterday.

The board’s approval is another milestone for the significant new community facility, which will give heart to the local community as well as Auckland’s north west generally.

The next step for the $27 million library and town square development is for a resource consent to be granted and the board to sign off on detailed designs. Construction is expected to start in April 2012.

A large regional three-level facility of about 3,500 square metres, the library will include a state of the art children’s ‘destination’ library, community meeting rooms and spaces, a Citizen’s Advice Bureau and a café.

It will be built using environmentally sustainable design principles and will be the first building of its type in the country designed to attain a 5 Star Green Star Certification using the New Zealand Green Building Council’s Customs Tool Framework system. It will feature a green roof as well as a green wall – a large living wall of plants.

The town square is a large, pedestrian friendly civic space of 4,500 square meters featuring raised and sunken lawns and a variety of seating and trees as well as outdoor dining areas.

The library and town square are an integral part of the development of Auckland’s north west – the largest urbanisation project in the country. Auckland Council has invested more than $300 million in the first stage of the billion-dollar project.

The library and town square will be part of the exciting new, fully-fledged regional town centre being created at Westgate, one of the city’s eight key metropolitan centres and Auckland Council is partnering with New Zealand Retail Property Group (NZRPG) in that development.

“This transformation of the north west is vital to Auckland’s future,” says Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse.

“This project is key to achieving the council’s vision to make Auckland the world’s most liveable city and provides a major contribution towards helping the Auckland Plan meet the projected need for housing, business land and economic growth over the next 30 years. It will ensure regional growth along with social, recreational, environmental and transport benefits.”

Henderson-Massey Community Board Chairperson Vanessa Neeson says the library and town centre initiative will provide space for people to gather, conduct business and relax.

“It represents all that is important to quality of life for our young people, other residents and visitors and to the future economic viability of whole region.”

At Hobsonville Point, a new community is being created. The Hobsonville Land Company is developing the former RNZAF military airbase featuring 3000 new homes, two new schools, small areas of shops and offices and new parks.

Part of the harbour front will be developed for a public ferry terminal and the development includes the creation of a Marine Industry Precinct for super-yacht building.

An open day is to be held at Massey Library on Saturday, December 10 from 10am to noon. Members of the public are welcome to come and view a variety of information and illustrations of the Westgate library and town square as well as the general north-west urbanisation project.

ENDS

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