Two council-owned buildings are being vested to the community in Hauraki – the Waitakaruru Community Hall and the Ngatea Council Depot.
Full ownership of the Waitakaruru Community Hall is passing to the Hauraki North Rugby Football Club, after Hauraki District Council agreed at its February 11 meeting to dispose of the asset.
The hall has been administered by the Waitakaruru Domain Board Committee since it opened in 1956. However, ownership of the building has been complicated, with the council only owning the original war memorial hall, and the club owning two extensions on either side of the building which it added in the 70s, to house the district’s football quarters.
“[The club’s] spent a bit of money on it. Things like the women’s toilets and the changing rooms – that’s all been done off our back,” club president Gavin Flint told The Profile.
“Although the council have been really good about it – [they] wanted us to have it.”
With the Waitakaruru Domain Board Committee officially winding down in early February, councillors agreed it was a good opportunity to formally pass on full control of its portion of the building to the sports club.
The transfer of the asset will take place through a sale and purchase agreement for the nominal sum of $1, and will mean the council will no longer be responsible for any repairs, maintenance, or other liabilities around the property.
The sale will be conditional on the property being vested to a likeminded incorporated society in the event that club is dissolved, or otherwise vested back to the council.
This condition will ensure the building does not become a burden on the community, council documents said.
Gavin said the transfer of the building’s ownership will make the club’s administration of the site much more straightforward.
“At the moment, we have to have two insurance policies… We’re the ones looking after it. I think it just makes sense, really,” he said.
“We’re a community club and a family club – nothing’s changed. It’s still there to be used, it just gives us a bit more autonomy.”
Meanwhile, the disused Council Depot building in Ngatea is also set to be disposed of, with ownership being vested to Hauraki Plains College.
The building, which currently sits on River Rd, is surplus to the council’s needs and has been unused for some time. Plans were made four or five years ago to remove the building, but the contract fell through, council was told.
The college recently indicated it was in need of an additional workshop space, council documents said, and councillors subsequently agreed to the transfer of ownership. The college will be responsible for all costs associated with the building relocation.
“That will then free up the site for us to be able to fully remediate… [we’ll] open it up as an extension of public car parking in that area, which is something we’ve been discussing with the ward for probably five or six years,” council’s general manager of service delivery Adrian de Laborde said at the meeting.
College principal Sharon Moller said the school was grateful for the support from council, and was looking at the viability of moving the building to its teaching farm, Hayward Farm, which is run by the Haurakian Charitable Trust.
“Our vision is… to transform the building into a classroom and community facility through a two-three year restoration project for students,” Sharon said.
“However, we are still evaluating the logistical and financial requirements to ensure the project is sustainable for the school and the Haurakian Charitable Trust.
“We are excited about the potential for real-world learning, but we are awaiting the results of this study before confirming any final plans.”
