'We want our school - not a new park'

Students from Monte Cecilia Primary School protest over the closure of their school during an Auckland City Council meeting at the Auckland Town Hall. Photo / NZH.

Friends of Monte Cecilia plan protests over what they say is a politician's costly legacy project

Supporters of Monte Cecilia School are demanding to know the true cost of creating a park they believe is being established only as a "legacy" for politicians.

The 58-year-old school faces relocation within five years so Monte Cecilia Park can extend down to Hillsborough Rd.

Protests will be held at the school today to coincide with the opening next door of the TSB Bank Wallace Art Centre in the restored Pah Homestead.

Simon Hertnon, of Friends of Monte Cecilia, said the protest would be peaceful, but noticeable.

A family day is being held on the school grounds to coincide with dignitaries arriving to the art gallery opening.

Mr Hertnon said one prominent hoarding would read "Banksy and C&R and the $100 million 'gift'. You won't be able to miss it."

"There's no way the opening of the gallery will take place with everyone involved, including members of the public, understanding this is not free, it's not a gift."

Buying the 1ha site from the Catholic Diocese is estimated to cost between $25 million and $30 million.

A council spokesman yesterday said the total cost to date for Monte Cecilia Park was $32 million for land acquisition and $10 million for the Pah Homestead renovations.

Mr Hertnon believed the entire project would cost $100 million.

"If there's an accurate number we'd love to see it but there isn't one. You only have to add up what they're doing ... what they've already spent, the properties they've bought. They're buying up properties day by day, literally day by day ... I think yesterday bought two more. It's just gone completely out of control."

He accused Auckland City Deputy Mayor David Hay, a driving force behind the plan, of creating a legacy for himself.

"He wants a park. His father's got a big park down the road and he wants a better park. But we don't need a premier park there."

Monte Cecilia Park will be just over 1km away from Cornwall Park and there is the Domain and Albert Park "all within cooee" of each other.

He said supporters of Monte Cecilia School believe you could get the best out of the park by leaving the school where it is.

"If we could move a few of the buildings which is what we've been saying since day one great, upgrade the park, share it with everyone, fantastic.

"We love the look of the upgraded Pah Homestead, but the true 'big picture' is that to get the best out of Monte Cecilia Park, a location with 100 years of history in educational philanthropy, we don't need to allow a few politicians to gift ratepayers' money to a cash-strapped church."

Mr Hay yesterday rejected the $100 million figure and branded it as scare tactics.

"They keep dreaming up figures left, right and centre. They're trying to put the woolies up everybody that we're going to try and buy more property ... and everyone's going to lose their houses. That is absolute rubbish."

There were no other properties to buy apart from a "sliver" of land to tidy a boundary.

"But there's no buying of other properties, nothing's been designated, there's been nothing talked about."

negotiations were continuing about three properties on the left of the driveway going in, but they had been under discussion for some time.

Mr Hay rejected suggestions the park was being created as a legacy to himself or anyone else, saying supporters were personalising the issue.

"I have some satisfaction [in the park] but I don't think I'm wasting the public's money thinking I'm creating some sort of statue to myself."

Expanding park

The new school will be built about 1km away on land at St John Vianney Church in Hillsborough Rd.

The council has been acquiring land from the church for Monte Cecilia Park since 2000 and has first right of refusal to buy the school land.

But friends of the school are angry it is being closed. They say they weren't properly consulted and don't believe the entire project will cost what the council has said it will.


Online:

www.friendsofmonte.org.nz