Te Puna Community Centre on Maramatanga Park is about to shut its doors for good, closing a chapter on a building that's been home to many activities and groups over the years.

The decision to close and demolish the centre was made by building owners Te Puna Community Centre committee, with technical advice and support provided by Western Bay of Plenty District Council team.

'An in-depth building assessment on the Te Puna Community Centre was carried out by a suitably qualified independent company,” says WBOPDC strategy and community general manager Rachael Davie.

'The report identified areas of black-mold as well as other building and plumbing issues.”

The report also revealed the centre needed extensive and costly repairs including water damage repairs, install of new insulation and moisture barriers, bathroom repairs, new accessibility features, rewiring, roof repairs and new windows.

The repair bill was to start at $1.3 million, with more work likely to be uncovered as things progressed, and questions were asked if the existing building was worth the extensive repair bill, as well as considerable maintenance after that.

Te Puna Community Centre treasurer Doug Morris says the committee held meetings with other key stakeholders to discuss the options with the decision made to demolish the centre for everyone's safety and because of the extent of work required.

Te Puna Community Centre treasurer Doug Morris. Photo: John Borren.

'It's a sad decision to plan to demolish this large community building that looks from a distance so good. Regrettably safety issues and building defects mean repair and refurbishment costs are exorbitant,” says Te Puna Community Centre secretary Jeff Brownless.

The Te Puna Community Centre, which had a building permit approved on October 29, 1987, is on Western Bay of Plenty District Council land. It was a council building but council went through a process in 1995 to divest the building to local community societies and it was initially leased to the Te Puna Community Centre, which is an incorporated society, then council gifted the building to the society, so the society now owns it.

Jeff says the centre was built in 1986 'by a bunch of enthusiasts”. 'The rumour goes that the foundation was put down before council had done the building consents. The Bethlehem Te Puna Lions were instrumental in funding a lot of it,” says Jeff.

The centre is still on council-owned land. Council collects a targeted rate from the Te Puna community for the Te Puna Community Centre and the Te Puna Memorial Hall. Every ratepayer in the ‘Te Puna community hall area of benefit' pays an amount from their rates.

For the current year this was $41 towards the Te Puna Community Centre and $6 for the Te Puna War Memorial Hall (exclusive of GST). This is paid by more than 1500 rating units in the surrounding area.

WBOPDC has agreed to an assessment of community facilities in Te Puna through the 2021-2031 Long Term Plan.

'This was in response to submissions requesting greater use of the Te Puna Community Centre on Maramatanga Park and the increased investment required in the building due to maintenance issues,” says Rachael.

'This assessment is currently being carried out and involves engagement with Pirirākau, Maramatanga Park clubs and users, other community facilities such as the Te Puna Memorial Hall, Te Puna School, Te Puna Library and with the wider community which will occur next year.”

Rachael says the outcome of this assessment will be considered in the 2024-2034 Long Term Plan and it includes a fresh look at the concept plan for Maramatanga Park that was developed in 2018. About $315,000 has been put aside in the 2021-2031 Long Term Plan to implement this concept plan. This is in addition to the $190,000 grant secured from the Lion Foundation to provide a new playground and flying fox. Council is also working on a cycleway/walkway through the park to improve safety and provide an alternative route for tamariki travelling to/from school.

'To us, this is about identifying what services the community needs so that together, we can plan for better outcomes for everyone,” says Rachael.

'The community facility assessment takes a holistic look at the options available, and what each of the key community stakeholders want. This big picture evaluation will help create a clear picture of present state and future options for this site.”

'At present, we've allocated the community centre $650,000 over 10 years (agreed with the community through the 2021-2031 Long Term Plan). Any amount significantly more than what's been allocated would require us to carry out wider community consultation to determine if the community supported it.”

Te Puna Community Centre president and Pirirākau representative Julie Shepherd says Pirirākau are now seeking support to build a new facility on the lower field as a cultural hub and shared community open meeting space through bookings.

'Location preference is next to a significant puna/spring,” says Julie, who says their plan is to share that space with the Bethlehem Te Puna Lions and the bridge club.

'Also a single build for tennis and jujitsu in the existing location. As hapu we need space in the community too. This is reflected by way of successful submissions to WBOPDC,” says Julie.

The Te Puna Community Centre is also home to the Te Puna Tennis Club. Photo: John Borren.

Rachael says Pirirākau made a submission to the 2021-31 Long Term Plan regarding development of a cultural hub on Maramatanga Park.

'Council will consider Pirirākau's plans in the community facility assessment,” says Rachael.

'No decisions have been made on future building replacement or development on Maramatanga Park as we need to go through the community facility assessment process.”

Council's Community Halls Policy includes the use of targeted rate funding. The ‘area of benefit' for each hall is a geographic area, within which all ratepayers are considered to benefit from the hall.