The school was relocated from Monte Cecilia as part of the development of Monte Cecilia Park and is now next to St John Vianney Church at 34 Whitmore Rd in Hillborough.

The new site is built around three Modern Learning Environments that can each accommodate up to 75 pupils.

It was opened in February 2016.

The expansion of the park also includes the acquisition of Liston Retirement Village.

The figures were obtained under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act.

The money required to relocate the school is additional to the $38.45 million which has already been spent acquiring land around the park over the past 10 years.

Mt Roskill MP Michael Wood says the former Auckland City Council plan has been pushed through despite years of community backlash.

"It was arrogant political decision-making by the council at the time," he says.

"It was a really good example of a grandiose boys' project they just decided they were going to ram through.

However, Auckland Council says it cannot be held responsible for the project.

Social policy manager Kataraina Maki says the council has an obligation to honour the contract, which was entered into by the previous administration.

In 1998, the former Auckland City Council agreed to purchase the park, with plans to further expand its holdings.

At the time John Banks was Mayor and David Hay was his deputy.

Mr Wood believes the pair pushed the plan to act as "their legacy".

The Monte Cecilia Catholic School site, Liston Retirement Village and 14 residential properties around the park's fringes have since been added to its grounds.

The final concept plan wasn't released to the public until November 2016 and many of its costs still remain confidential.

Source

• newshub.co.nz
• stuff.co.nz
• Image: tiakimanatu.org

The Whare on the former Monte Cecilia Catholic School site in Hillsborough was spared from demolition under the presumption it could be utilised by the Puketapapa Local Board as a community facility.

However, Auckland Council staff are now advising against its retention but are saying there are no immediate plans for its demolition. Continue reading

Fourteen households in Auckland Council-owned rental properties have been given 90 days to find new homes in the city's tight property market.

The council has said it can be flexible about notice requirements.

Monte Cecilia School was moved at ratepayers' expense to allow for expansion of the park.

The council is also progressively buying nearby Liston Village.

A confidentiality agreement with Auckland diocese means the price of land deals is not public.

Continue reading

The deal involves progressively buying the Liston Village from the Catholic Church as units are vacated, expanding Monte Cecilia Park and rebuilding the Monte Cecilia school.

The agreement was made months before the amalgamation of the Auckland territorial bodies in 2010.

Liston Village is a 25-unit retirement village that the Catholic church built in 1982.

Nine houses that have so far become vacant and have been filled by renters.

Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse, whose mother lived in the village, said she would like to "retain some housing on that beautiful site" but was mindful of sale-and-purchase agreements entered into by the previous council.

Jean Stansfield, 75, who has lived in Liston Village for 10 years, said residents were worried about the future even though it could be decades until the death of the youngest person with a licence to occupy, who is still in her 60s.

"There are some elderly, they can't stop worrying," she said.

"The lady next to me came in a panic, which is understandable because she has nobody to find her another place if they kick her out.

"We can't see any sense in destroying 25 places for the elderly when there is such a shortage of homes."

The Puketapapa Local Board says the five-year old plan for the Hillsborough complex makes no sense.

Roskill Community Voice member of the Board Michael Wood hopes to persuade the Council to reconsider its decision.

"This plan made limited sense in 2010, and even less in 2015 during a housing crisis," said Wood.

"In the middle of a housing crisis, how can it be that Auckland Council is planning to demolish a thriving social housing community for Senior Citizens?", he asks.

A campaign has been launched to try to stop the Auckland Council from demolishing Liston Village.

A broad community coalition is coming together to support the campaign, and a petition will be launched at a public meeting on 11 October.

Speakers at the meeting will be:

• MP for Mt Roskill Phil Goff
• Albert-Eden-Roskill Governing Body member Cathy Casey
• Auckland isthmus Grey Power President Anne-Marie Coury
• Puketapapa Local Board member Michael Wood

All are welcome to attend the public meeting which will be held at 2pm on Sunday 11 October at the Fickling Centre, Three Kings.

"Working together we can stand up for our Seniors, and convince Auckland Council to save Liston Village", says Wood

Source

• radionz.co.nz
• scoop.co.nz
• nzherald.co.nz
• cityvision.org.nz
• Image: nzherald.co.nz

Liston Village, owned by the Auckland Catholic diocese, could face demolition for parkland under a long-term plan for the development of Monte Cecilia Park.

Puketapapa Local Board member, Michael Wood, said the local board was commissioning a report to investigate options to retain the village.

About 40 residents of Auckland's council-owned properties on the other side of the park already face losing their homes.

The Residents of Korma Ave have been told their council-owned flats and houses backing Monte Cecilia Park could go, possibly by December.

Eight properties - including blocks of flats - will be cleared to make way for 44 carparks to access a new playground, shown on plans for the reserve.

Letters have been sent to residents in homes and flats telling them their properties will feature on park maps.

"Inclusion of this property on the map does not imply the public has access to your property but as the land has been purchased by Auckland Council and will become part of the park in the future it has been included in the map," said the letter.

"We don't have a firm date for the house removals but it is likely to be at the end of 2015 or during 2016."

The Shape of Auckland website says the consultation process Monte Cecilia Park master plan update closed on 15 April

Source

• New Zealand Herald
• Image: Walks in Auckland