Project summary

What we're doing

A new, a single-story facility has been approved by Hamilton City Council for Pukete Neighbourhood House, to be built in Ashurst Park. The project team are currently consulting with the community on the reclassification of a section of Ashurst Park, which will allow us to build the facility near the Ashurst Ave entrance. The new building will include a park café, bookable meeting spaces, a community garden, and carparking. It will allow Pukete Neighbourhood House to better provide their wide range of services to the community.

​

Why we're doing it

Currently located in Te Rapa Sportsdrome, the Pukete Neighbourhood House have outgrown the space they’re in. This new facility would help Pukete Neighbourhood House to better support the community with their wide range of services, as well as freeing up space in Te Rapa Sportsdrome for sports-related groups to use. The new building would help Pukete Neighbourhood House to continue delivering these services and more, as well as providing a new community space for everyone to use.

​

Proposed partial reclassification of Ashurst Park

We’re proposing to reclassify the section of Ashurst Park at the entrance from Ashurst Avenue, from Recreation Reserve to Local Purpose (Community Facility) Reserve, under Section 24 of the Reserves Act 1977. If approved, this reclassification will enable a new single-story community facility to be built, and for Council to grant a lease to local community outreach group, Pukete Neighbourhood House - Te Whare Takiwa o Pukete.  The area to be reclassified is shaded light green in the concept drawing here. No other changes to Ashurst Park are being considered as part of the proposal. * Proposed building layout subject to change

​

About the new facility

If the reclassification is approved, our plan for the new building includes a park cafe, bookable meeting spaces, a community garden, and carparking. It will allow Pukete Neighbourhood House to better provide their wide range of services to the community.  The design process will consider noise, lighting, and safety as key priorities. The goal is to build a warm and welcoming space for everyone in the community to use.  The existing playground would need to be moved to allow space for the new community facility. This could be accommodated in the location marked on the site plan, using allocated renewals budget.  The community will have an opportunity to inform the play space design.  A few exotic trees would need to be removed to allow for the development of the site. We will look to mitigate any loss through careful replacement planting of suitable trees.  

We anticipate that construction of the building will take about 12 months to complete. 

​