Transcript on the future of Ardmore Hall and Bell Field video
[Video: Title Ardmore Hall and Bell Field background information appears on the screen. Below the title is displayed "Produced by Lucy Stallworthy, Organised by Lucy Stallworthy."]
[Video: Auckland Have Your Say logo and a picture with a couple walking near the Auckland ferry terminal are shown. The words "We need your feedback on the future of Ardmore Hall and Bell Field" are displayed next to the picture.]
Voice: Franklin Local Board has a goal of providing fit for purpose places and facilities across the area and wants to hear your thoughts on whether it should consider the sale of Ardmore Hall and Bell Field if it would mean delivering better local options elsewhere.
[Video: Two charts appear on the screen. The title of first chart is "Population growth per cent 2018 to 2051 (33 years)". The title of the second chart is "Population projections".]
Voice: Franklin is experiencing significant growth. In the next 30 years, the population will more than double and that is much faster than the rest of Auckland. We are already seeing transformation in Clevedon from growth and this will impact neighbouring Ardmore residents too.
[Video: A map of Franklin Local Board area appears on the screen.]
Voice: Ardmore Hall and neighbouring Bell Field sit halfway between Papakura and Clevedon. Once known as Wairoa Road, the area became known as Ardmore after a farm owned by John H Burnside, when a school was built in 1885.
[Video: A Google maps image of Ardmore Hall and Bell Field appears on the screen.]
Voice: The hall is located at 177 Burnside Road and Bell Field is on the corner of the Papakura-Clevedon Road and Burnside Road. Residents built the hall to compliment the school’s facilities in 1899 but the building is not heritage-listed.
[Video: An image of the war memorial and Ardmore Hall appear on the screen. The words Built in 1899 also appear on the screen.]
Voice: A war memorial, initially positioned elsewhere, was relocated to the hall site in 1975. The future of the war memorial is a feature that would be considered carefully alongside the future of the hall. Ardmore Airport was built in 1943 during World War Two as an operational base and has since become a business centre. Today’s residents tend to access public services, sports, leisure and cultural activities in Clevedon or Papakura.
[Video: An image of Ardmore Hall appears on the screen. The following words appear in the image:
- Fire early 2021.
- Venue for hire.
- Is there anything we need to know when consider the future of Ardmore Hall?
- Is this the right facility to continue to invest in?]
Voice: The hall has not been widely used and has been shut since last year’s fire. While insured, there are ongoing maintenance, renewal and management costs, and the board wonders if that is justified given availability of other similar venues in the area and growing demand for service and facilities in Clevedon. It must consider future needs and is asking if there is more it needs to know, and if selling and reinvesting in other local facilities should be considered.
[Video: A Google maps image of Ardmore Hall and Bell Field appears on the screen.]
Voice: Next to the hall, Bell Field is a cricket venue and hosts the school’s annual Ag Day. Improving it would require significant investment. Local cricket clubs and Counties Manukau Cricket would prefer money spent at Clevedon. Your thoughts on Bell Field will inform any decision the board makes.
[Video: An image of with the words Ardmore Hall and Bell Field on a wooden sign post near a playground appears on the screen.]
Voice: Auckland Council cannot afford to continue to maintain its existing facilities and build new ones. Boards can optimise local assets - in other words, sell some to reinvest in others. Council’s governing body, who are responsible for regional outcomes can also sell disused assets. The governing body can use proceeds anywhere in Auckland. The board believes it is better-placed to make those decisions because it understands local perspectives and can ensure local return from any sale.
[Video: Two images appear on the screen. One image is of two children on a beach posing for a photo is displayed with the words Franklin Local Board Plan 2020. The other image is of a building and a page with the title Outcome 3: Fit for purpose places and facilities followed by text below.]
Voice: While the fire and feedback from cricket clubs prompted the focus on Ardmore Hall and Bell Field, a more important reason for asking questions now is the board’s commitment to providing fit for purpose place and facilities, which is outcome three of its local board plan.
[Video: An image appears on the screen with the AK Have your say logo and text]
Voice: You can give your feedback as part of the Annual Budget consultation at Question 5, which is about local priorities. The specific question we are asking is: Would you support the sale of Ardmore Hall and/or Bell Field if the proceeds of that sale were reinvested in Clevedon Showgrounds and/or public facilities in Clevedon Village, for example cricket grounds and the Clevedon Hall? Please do make comments so we can understand your perspective.
[Video: An image appears with the options to provide feedback.]
Voice: You can give feedback a number of ways. You can talk with board members during the online Wairoa clinic on Friday 11 March at 2.30pm. This monthly meeting is run by Wairoa subdivision members Angela Fulljames and Malcolm Bell, You can also attend an online Have Your Say event covering regional topics and the board’s priorities - including the hall and field - on Monday 14 March from 5pm to 7pm.
Voice: Email the local board annualbudget@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz to receive an invitation to either event. You can go straight to the AK Have Your Say website from late February to late March and fill in the annual budget feedback form online.
[Video: Auckland Have Your Say logo and a picture with a couple walking near Auckland ferry terminal appear on the screen. The words "Nothing has been decided. Your insights will help inform decisions around Ardmore Hall and Bell Field" are displayed next to the picture.]
Voice: Nothing has been decided, and whatever the outcome of these discussion, it would take time to action a sale, and thoroughly investigate reinvestment options. Proceeds from any board-initiated sale would stay in the local area, but right now, the board needs to know if selling should even be considered. Your insights will help inform decisions around the options open to board members. Please do have your say.
[Video ends]
