Iain Valentine, Chair, Remuera Residents Association and Sue Cooper, Chair, Remuera Heritage presented to the Ōrākei Local Board (OLB) on 19 April 2018 about the need for a community centre in Remuera. A previous report assessing community needs had vastly misrepresented the population and therefore the needs of Remuera as being only 3,627, when in reality it is about 28,000. Remuera needs a community centre to service its diverse community needs with a focus on the town centre and the library. There are only 2 community facilities in Remuera – the Remuera Library and 4 Victoria Avenue which houses the CAB and Plunket. There are no rooms available for hire at the current facility at 4 Victoria Avenue, the future of which is very uncertain.
Remuera is a substantial size district with a diverse population of 28,000. It has a large long-established town centre. There is a need to service a large area with a growing diverse community, focused on the town centre. Proceeds from any sale of Victoria Avenue should be reinvested in the Remuera community – in a Remuera community centre in the Remuera town centre.
Recommendations submitted to OLB:
- Keep 4 Victoria Avenue & redevelop
- If 4 Victoria Ave is sold, reinvest the funds in Remuera town centre with a community centre near the library = the community heart
- Set up a community liaison group about redevelopment of 4 Victoria Ave as a community centre.