Planned Car Park Extension

Copies to Dr Paul Hutchison Member Parliament Hunua.

The Honourable Rodney Hide Beverly Holden Chairperson Patumahoe School Board of Trustees.

Greg Lowe Team Leader Local and Sports Park South.

Auckland Council.

Mr Des Morrison Elected Member Auckland Council.

Mr Len Brown Mayor Auckland City.

Mr Daniel Fulton Fulton of Swimming

Other I interested Parties.

Dear Mr Gordon,

Thank you for your letter of 26th November which has clarified several important matters.

Two of these are . The proposed extensions are not for Fulton Swim School Patrons. The proposed School Car Park extensions are in your words solely to alleviate the issue of insufficient Staff Car Parking.May I therefore respectfully point out that by adding the proposed new driveway to the extensions to the existing School; Staff Car Park at least one probably two spaces are lost due to the need for vehicles to access this proposed driveway.May I respectfully further add that this additional entrance may well create additional hazard on the School grounds and definitely on the Reserve.In my opinion it is grossly unfair to confiscate land and remove established native trees from a Reserve of which the School is one of the Major beneficiaries for access to parking exclusively for School Staff.If you apply the same interpretations under the Health and Safety in Employment Amendment Act ( 2002 ) to identify and eliminate potential hazardous situations then this driveway should not be constructed.Several days ago I walked from the Reserve Public Car Parking area to the School Office slowly.It took less than 90 seconds.This area has over 70 car park spaces marked and has room for perhaps another 20.As for Staff arriving in the winter before daylight and leaving after dark I simply do not believe it. Remember my wife and I operated the School buses to this School for close to 20 years. Even if it were true the first 18 vehicles to arrive already have space available at the School.Again I wish the School well and have no wish to interfere with your organization.However the confiscation of Reserve land and removal of mature Native trees for a few of the staff of an organization that operates little over 200 days a year and historically are mostly temporary residents is an insult to everyone else.Once Park and Reserve land is taken it is lost forever.I and a lot of others did not devote years of effort to see this happen.Go ahead with your car park extensions if you really deem it necessary but leave our Reserve land alone..Yesterday I received letter for Mr Andy Baker, Chair Franklin Local Board who is keen to assist with the resolution of this matter.It is in everyone’s interest that this is resolved and that our wonderful School, Parks and Reserves are preserved and enhanced for the benefit of all residents.

Yours Faithfully,

Keith Hardy.

Ron Gordon has kindly given permission to publish the letter that resolves this issue:

Following our recent correspondence and discussions the Board of Trustees has decided not to progress with the planned car park extension.

We appreciate the strength of concern amongst some residents in regards to the proposed carpark. The Board of Trustees does not wish the school to create animosity amongst our community. We can understand from your point of view the historical aspects surrounding the establishment of the Council Reserve to its present day use.

The Board of Trustees has actively encouraged our school community to park in the Council car park, and will continue to do so. However, we do not have a resolution to Council car parking requirements and the Board of Trustees will be considering other options to resolve this issue with respect to the safety of our staff.

Thank you for raising your concerns with us.

(Signed by: Beverley Holden, Chairperson Board of Trustees Ron Gordon, Principal Patumahoe Primary School)