Council bails out

Papakura District Council has sold its share in the town centre's Accent Point building which has struggled with empty shops since the Deka chain store closed in 2001.

The council was paying about $460,000 a year towards Accent Point's running costs, while using one floor for the district library and museum.

Those facilities will move down to a floor at street level which the council will lease, said Mayor Calum Penrose.

The new owners would revamp the four-storey building and make a more welcoming entrance to the cultural facilities.