Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is at 254 Ponsonby Road at the moment?
Currently, the site is leased and has a LiquorLand store operating there.
2. What is the history of the site?
In 1851 the original purchase was made for Queen Victoria. Ponsonby was known as ‘Dedwood’ by Europeans, until 1870 and became known as ‘Ponsonby’ in 1873.
In 1886 the building of a new Catholic church named Sacred Heart was begun on the site at 254 Ponsonby Road and completed in 1887.
In 2006, the Auckland City Council purchased the site for civic open space.
3. What is the timeline for the development?
The detailed scoping work of the design and budget, known as the ‘Business Case”, for LandLAB’s Park+ concept design, commenced in September 2019 and was approved by the Waitemata Local Board. Work was anticipated to start on-site in July 2020, however, this was delayed due to Covid-19. It is currently underway with Phase One of the development fully funded and started.
4. Who is involved?
Auckland Council owns the land.
The Waitemata Local Board initiated the project and the hugely successful ‘Community-Led Design’ (CLD) process.
Several public consultations were conducted by the volunteer CLD group. This resulted in a clear preference for;
- the LandLAB Park+ concept design
- a whole site civic open space (that was UNANIMOUSLY supported by Council in December 2018)
The Waitemata Local Board has advocated for Ponsonby Park, and chose this project as their ‘One Local Initiative’.
Funding is in place for Phase One of the development and after several years delay due to Covid, the development is now well underway.
5. What is ‘Community-led Design’?
Community-led design (CLD) is a process whereby a project is undertaken by a community group or organisation. It is a ‘from the bottom UP’, rather than a ‘from the top DOWN’ process.
It involves local people in decision-making that is informed by an ongoing process of community consultation and engagement throughout the project.
6. How did it happen?
The Waitemata Local Board selected people from a variety of groups to further the whole-of-the-site civic open space, aka Ponsonby Park, objective. The Community-led design process led to a public meeting being held where interested people formed the Community-Led Design Group.
7. How do I keep up to date?
Contact us at: info@254ponsonbyrd.org.nz
Visit our website: http://www.254ponsonbyrd.org.nz/
Visit our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/254PonsonbyRd/?ref=ts&fref=ts