Trees to be felled for new library

New Katikati Library and Hub Site to be cleared for construction. Photos: Elaine Fisher.

Katikati's new library is being built at the cost of native trees on the Talisman Road site that will be felled to make way for the $4.5million development.

The new Katikati Library and Hub to be located on Talisman Drive the Western Bay of Plenty District Council has decided.

A report from the council states council staff considered the option of transplanting the trees - a kauri and a golden totara - to an alternative site, but have been advised there is little likelihood of successfully transplanting them.

Options for the re-use and recycling of the wood are being considered and any useful wood will be stored for later use, such as carving.

It is planned to plant several native tree species on Council land in Katikati to balance the environmental footprint of having to remove these trees for construction works.

The double-storied library and service centre building and single-storey community hub was approved by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council on August 4.

The $3.8million construction contract has been awarded to Watts and Hughes. The total $4.5m budget includes construction costs, fees and contingencies.

'It's very pleasing that we've now got to the stage where we are within reach of building much needed facilities in Katikati that will add real value to the community for years to come and become part of the fabric of what makes this area a great place to live,'' says Mayor Garry Webber.

The Katikati Library has been planned for in Council's Long Term Plan (LTP) since 2012 and the project was consulted on with the community through the Council's 2015 LTP, and Annual Plan processes.

A property at 21 Main Street was purchased in March 2011, and identified within the Katikati Town Centre Plan as a suitable location for a Library and Service Centre.

In the course of consultation with the community and the Katikati Community Board, the concept of a community hub as part of the area office/library was advocated and agreed by Council in March 2016. External funding of $350,000 for the hub was obtained through a Lotteries grant.

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5 comments

Amazing

Posted on 18-09-2017 11:35 | By MISS ADVENTURE

How easy it is to whack a couple trees for costly and loss making Council creations, yet private businesses that make money have a battle every time for just thinking about it.


Again

Posted on 18-09-2017 13:14 | By rastus

So much for treasuring the environment - methinks too many of these pointy heads speak with forked tongue!


@ rastus

Posted on 18-09-2017 18:30 | By MISS ADVENTURE

Actually likely worse than that, it looks to me that the rules apply to everyone else. They jsut run a muck, no consultations, just an announcement of that desired and we decided for ourselves "What I want!" attitude prevails.


They're not native trees

Posted on 19-09-2017 12:26 | By Papamoaner

Knock em over, build the structure, then plant some natives. That's probably the plan, but you jokers always come out running and shooting from the hip with no proper aim, which explains why you never hit anything MISS-y


No bites? Only joking.

Posted on 19-09-2017 21:43 | By Papamoaner

But seriously, if you remove two or three and replace them with many more, isn't that a good thing? Kauri are no good anyway where people walk around the place because their delicate root systems are too near the surface


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