Wow, wow and wow – this is the best news for Ponsonby Park!
This is great news for Ponsonby Park. This substantial new and additional funding (to that already earmarked in the Long Term Plan) will make it possible to complete Stage One and Stage Two of the development together, once the business plan has been approved by council.
This is a game changer for the community.
Removing the financial necessity to complete the development in two separate stages will provide economies of scale that will hugely enhance the budgetary spend. Logistically, it makes sense, as there will no longer be the need to undo work already completed in Stage One to progress Stage Two. And, most importantly, it will bring the long 13-year wait for the development of Ponsonby Park to
an end.
Work on the Business Case for Ponsonby Park is already underway.
In early August, the Community-led design (CLD) group met with key personnel from the project delivery team and members of the Waitemat-a Local Board (WLB). At this meeting, the Scope of Work and Project Stages were outlined as was the approach being taken. The detailed Business Case and indicative timelines were also discussed. Next, elements of the LandLAB design were reviewed.
Finally, the concept and role of the Project Control Steering Group (PCSG) was introduced. The PCSG is an exciting new governance model that is being trialed for the realisation of Ponsonby Park. It follows on from our CLD work and keeps the community at the table throughout the process.
Essentially, ownership of the project is retained by the WLB but the PCSG will:
• Discuss key issues and potential delivery risks
• Provide guidance for key decision making
• Support the project delivery team
• Provide communication channels to stakeholders
• Provide quality advice for the WLB’s decision making process
We are delighted to have been invited to be part of the PCSG and our representative is Mr Chris Bailey.
We would like to thank the Waitemat-a Local Board for selecting Ponsonby Park as their One Local Initiative and advocating strongly for the project.
We would also like to thank Auckland Council for the opportunity to be part of the PCSG. And we are thrilled and very appreciative that the governing body saw the value of allocating the additional funds to create Ponsonby Park as a single-stage project.
Energised and eager, we look forward to contributing to the actualisation of Ponsonby Park – even more so now the on-site work will be completed all at once. And, as always, we will keep you informed with regular updates through our established communication channels (thank you, Martin) and some in-person community events.
Our last event was held on Saturday 17 August. It was a great day with lots of excited and happy people pleased to hear that the start of physical work on-site is less than one year away. Ponsonby Park – it’s happening! (JENNIFER WARD)
You can stay up to date or contact us at: www.254Ponsonbyrd.org or check us out on Facebook – Ponsonby Park.
The LandLAB design for Ponsonby Park won the international ‘World Architecture News – Future Civic Category’ award in November 2018.
#iloveponsonby #ponsonbynews #ponsonby #Greylynn #hernebay #ponsonbypark #waitematalocalboard