Taita centre prompts wider review

The need to get the best use out of community facilities has underpinned a series of face-to-face meetings now under way between Taita groups and council staff.

The $12 million proposal to renovate and expand the Walter Nash Stadium into the Taita Community Centre is in the final stages of resource consent approval, prompting the council to take the opportunity to look at whether it meets local as well as broader community needs.

Community services general manager Matt Reid says the council is aware that “hubbing” facilities – combining sporting, cultural and recreational centres of a wider geographical area in one place – can result in better use of money and a better result of communities.

“If you look, for instance, at Stokes Valley or Eastbourne, our facilities are spread out, are old and do not provide a place where the community can go for a range of activities.”

Matt says it makes sense to consider individual suburb’s needs for community and recreational facilities within the context of neighbouring suburbs. This could avoid costly duplication or facilities that meet the immediate suburb’s needs but fall short of wider needs. 

Matt and other staff are talking to Taita sporting and community groups, schools, churches and other interested parties about what they need right now and in the future.

Matt says members of the public are also invited to submit their ideas. Suggestions should go to taita.project@huttcity.govt.nz.

The results of the Taita discussions and review may well be applied across the city in future, he says. “The success of any community hub will depend on making sure the relevant community contributes to the concept, design and ongoing operations.”

The Taita Community Centre, as currently proposed, will have five indoor multi-purpose courts and 11 outside courts, a fitness centre, café, two community meeting rooms and a recreational hall/theatre replacing the current meeting hall and two other meeting rooms.