Avondale getting serious investment but land sale thorny issue

Avondale has been crying out for some love — and it looks like help is on the way for the rundown town centre.

In this term of council, Whau Local Board and councillor Ross Clow have secured $21 million to replace Avondale’s crumbling, black mouldridden community centre with a combined library and community centre, and $105 million for a new swimming pool and recreation centre for West Auckland that could be located in the suburb.

Jacklyn Bonnici, co-ordinator of Avondale Community Action, said amazing stuff is happening in Avondale at grass roots level, in the arts, culture and music, and the suburb is feeling better than it has for a long time. The group of individuals and organisations working towards a better future for the community is pleased with progress to upgrade the town’s facilities but wants the land occupied by the old community centre preserved for public space.

Under a deal to fund the new community centre and library, council’s development arm Panuku will sell the old community centre site — and that rankles with Bonnici.

She said it is the last significant piece of council-owned land in the town centre and should be kept for a big population surge in the future.

“We are really pro residential build in Avondale but really worried about the loss of gathering spaces, green spaces, play spaces and just wonder where all these people in apartment spaces are going to go.

“We would much rather see the Local Board and Ross fight for the investment in the new build, but the retention of that piece of land to see it converted to something for community benefit,” she said.