Self-Supporting “Mona Vale" Plan

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31306, 28 February 1967, Page 18

Self-Supporting “Mona Vale" Plan

Development of “Mona Vale” as a cultural centre, using existing buildings and features so that it becomes self-supporting, is recommended by the Christchurch Civic Trust. It feels the charm and character of the property should not be altered.

Capital cost of the scheme is estimated at £17.000. Selling some of the property is suggested as a source of initial finance. The board decided last night to send a comprehensive report and drawings depicting suggested use of the property, drawn by Mr P. J. Beaven, to all local bodies concerned in the purchase of the property. Main features of the project are: A licensed restaurant with dance area, and provision for parking 100 cars off Fendalton road. This would incorporate reconditioned glasshouses, at a cost of £5OOO. Conference and reception facilities in the main building, costing £l5OO. Provision of a sound shell for open-air orchestral and other concerts, £l5OO. A coffee house with a view along the river to the weir, costing £5OO, involving reconstruction of an existing building. A restaurant to be constructed from one of the glasshouses and a new kitchen to be provided at a cost of £3500. Parking for another 100 cars in the south-east corner. Provision for changing and dressing-rooms for visiting artists using the sound shell. A boathouse with fibre-glass boats for the lake, at a cost of £l5OO. COST £7OOO The cost of bringing the grounds up to date and shifting buildings would be about £7OOO, said Mr Beaven. He listed other costs involved in providing for open-air con-

certs and dancing, sealing for parking areas and other facilities. It was evident from these outlays, which were well under £20,000, that a completely economic unit could be achieved. There was nothing like Mona Vale—a beautifully laid out English landscape garden —in New Zealand, he said. It was not a garden which could be easily opened to the public, or maintained in the normal manner. Finely detailed and precisely laid out in a picturesque setting, the property should be a semi-cultural area. By participating in various activities the public could derive maximum benefit. HALF POPULATION “If half the population of the city visit the grounds at

a charge of 2s 6d this would produce £15,000 a year,” Mr Beaven said. He suggested that a large catering organisation could operate the whole scheme on lease to the City Council, including gardening and upkeep. Costs would be met from the operating profit of concessions. To find the sum for capital development, it could be possible to sell six sections without affecting the over-ail design.

Mr A. C. Brassington urged that the control of riparian rights should be closely examined. The weir, he pointed out, controlled the level of the water above it, and the whole of the drainage of Fendalton could be affected.