Whakatāne District Council’s Living Together Committee today received a comprehensive update on public feedback regarding the future of the Rex Morpeth Recreation Hub and recommended approach, marking another step forward for the significant project.
General Manager Community Experience, Georgina Fletcher says following extensive conversations with a wide cross section of Whakatāne District communities, a recommended master plan option has now been developed by consultants which staggers changes to the hub.
“Earlier this year, we asked our communities to 'think big' about the future of the hub. We worked with our communities and key users of the spaces and facilities to better understand current uses and consider what the future of the hub might look like.”
Georgina continues, “Three master plan options were developed based off this feedback, including an ‘enhance status quo’ option, and we took these back out to the community in October for further feedback.”
Council was today provided detail on the submissions received and presented with the recommended preferred option from the consultant team, which has been shaped in partnership with Whakatāne District communities.
“We were rapt with the input we received from a wide cross-section of our communities with 305 people or groups putting forward their ideas for the hub via our Kōrero Mai survey, and many more contributing to the conversation via pop-up sessions and workshops.”
“It really illustrates how invested people are in this much loved and used community asset,” says Georgina. Adding, “We are equally committed to ensuring current and future needs are met through this project and the social, cultural, sporting and recreation needs of our communities are catered for while balancing affordability.”
With Council now in receipt of a recommended master plan, Elected Members will now consider the inclusion of the project in the draft ten-year budget 2024/34.
“If the redevelopment project is approved for inclusion in the suite of Long Term Plan projects, our communities will have a further opportunity to have their say on the future of the hub when formal consultation on the Long Term Plan opens in March next year.”
The recommended master plan is a thirty-year-plus vision for the hub and is based off Option 1 - ‘Optimising for Now and the Future’ recently consulted on. It is proposed to be delivered in three stages over a 10-year period, with affordable ‘quick wins’ itemised in the first four years. These include opening up the area between Rugby Park and Rex Morpeth Park to activate the full hub area, and the development of a new children’s playground area.
Mrs Fletcher says it is unaffordable to fund any master plan alone as a community, and a comprehensive preferred plan is critical to progress external funding discussions.
“Typically community facilities such as this can attract a significant portion of funding, and whilst Council has further work to do before committing to any master plan, we can now begin to progress funding discussions.”
The public is encouraged to help contribute to making the Whakatāne District an even better place to live, work, play and visit when formal consultation on the next Long Term Plan opens in March next year.
More information
The recommended master plan includes the redevelopment of the existing hall to provide for upgraded facilities and four full-sized indoor basketball courts together with additional improvements over the Rex Morpeth Park area. It does not include any changes to the existing tennis courts and club or the Whakatāne Fitness and Aquatic Centre, although an area is left reserved for a future extension to the Aquatic Centre. The Arts House remains as part of the master plan, in the existing location, until such time as a decision is made on an Arts Hub as part of Council’s Arts, Culture and Creativity Strategy.