Land purchased for future Maketu Community Hub

Monday, 27 June 2016

Plans for a future multi-purpose community and recreational facility in Maketu are one step closer for the beach-side community.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council has purchased a vacant 1690sqm section of land on Little Waihi Road which is being earmarked for a future community hub.

Mayor Ross Paterson says a community hub is one of the key projects put forward in the 2014 Maketu Community Plan.

"When Council reviewed Maketu's Community Plan in 2014 the strongest theme from the community was the demand for a multi-purpose hub in the future.

"Part of this involved finding a suitable piece of land. When this land became available we knew that it would fit the bill perfectly.

"We want to continue to show our communities that we're listening, and helping them to achieve their goals. This land purchase is the first step in achieving one of Maketu's key goals."

Maketu Community Board Chair Shane Beech says this is great news for the community.

"The people of Maketu have great pride in the way Maketu looks and feels and now we have the ability to utilise this property to enhance the atmosphere and feeling of the CBD area.

"The land was the only large piece of commercial freehold land available in Maketu's CBD area; its location and size mean there are great opportunities for future development."

Shane says the multipurpose community hub could host a combination of activities and groups, such as meeting places, a youth centre, gymnasium, sports and office facilities.

He says a steering committee will look into the pros and cons of establishing the new facility. The current community centre is old and unfit for future needs.

The purchased site sits adjacent to the current Council-owned community centre and the Maketu Information Centre.