Fairfield fights back for hall
‘‘When I was here, I got on it straight away, just for the sake of our kids that have got no shoes,’’ Wereta said.
Wereta believes because there is no permanent council presence at the park, its users don’t respect it.
But city parks manager David Varcoe said Fairfield Park was visited three times per week by council staff.
‘‘When the groundsperson left we looked at efficiencies and mobilised the position to provide better level of service to all of Hamilton’s sports fields.
‘‘Unmanned parks such as Fairfield are regularly maintained by City Parks Mobile team; mowing, shrub maintenance, rubbish removal and facility maintenance are completed,’’ Varcoe said.
Wereta and Neha have been Fairfield residents for most of their lives.
They said the suburb has a stigma that it doesn’t deserve.
‘‘It has its ups and downs as with any community, but it’s a strong, beautiful community.
‘‘We have rough-necks, like everybody, but we look after each other,’’ Neha said.
‘‘I think we’re not celebrated enough, simple as that.’’
Council’s social development manager Andy Mannering said community groups have until June 16 to lodge interest in the initiative.
A staff report will go to council’s Community and Services Committee on August 8 for decisions on the Community Occupancy Leases.
The new leases for the facility will come into effect on July 1, 2018, giving organisations time to prepare for changes to their activities and locations, if required.
Mannering said some organisations were interested in a lease for Fairfield Hall already. ‘‘We’re patient,’’ Neha said. ‘‘We’ve been in this neighbourhood forever.
‘‘We’re still here, we’re still waiting and we’re still happy to fight for it.’’