170 have say on proposal for Monte Cecilia School

Monte Cecilia School in Hillsborough, overlooking the Manukau Harbour. File photo / Martin Sykes

The Catholic Church's plan to rezone land in Hillsborough for a replacement for Monte Cecilia School has drawn submissions from 170 people.

The rezoning hearing will be held next week, starting on Monday.

The old Auckland City Council resolved to acquire the Monte Cecilia site and move the school to the St John Vianney Church property further along Hillsborough Rd.

An opponent of the move, councillor Cathy Casey, said yesterday that the fight was not over.

On Tuesday, the Auckland Council will hear her bid to revoke the old council's decision to take over the school and adjacent Liston Village.

Dr Casey wants any contracts or agreements about the school's demolition and relocation to be cancelled.

She said Super City council members might not want at least another $30 million added for the old council's desire for a park around the restored Pah Homestead, now the TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre.

St John Vianney parishioners, community and neighbours had not been consulted, Dr Casey said.

A petition signed by 2200 supported keeping the school at Monte Cecilia.

The hearing will be conducted by independent planning commissioners as council planners prepare for another district plan change hearing late next month to rezone the 14.5ha Monte Cecilia Park from residential 6a to conservation and leisure open space.

Dr Casey said the June hearing should be cancelled in light of the possibility that the St John Vianney site would be found at next week's hearing to be unsuitable.

But council regional planning manager Penny Pirrit said next month's plan change had no direct effect on discussions about the school and retirement village or the plan change for St John Vianney so the hearing should go ahead.