It must be one of the most attractive beachfront features in the Wellington region — when the duck pond is full of water.
Unfortunately, over the last two summers it has had little or no water in it after one of Dougherty’s contractors botched the resurfacing and the ducks are history.
Now the council has decided to get rid of this scene in MacLean Park entirely, including the elevated kiosk in the mid-background which is going to be demolished.
So on the next fine day why not go there to appreciate it before it’s gone.
Update — the Kiosk may survive!
The Kapiti Coast District Council has done a U-turn on demolishing the iconic Maclean Park kiosk in Paraparaumu.
The council issued a press release last Thursday confirming the kiosk would be demolished, as relocating the structure was not practical or cost effective.
The KCDC media statement last week said, “The Maclean Park upgrade is moving forward with confirmation that the park’s kiosk will be demolished, and the materials will be re-purposed where practical, in the coming weeks.”
But Chair of the Paraparaumu-Raumati Community Board Jonny Best told Beach FM today that council was now considering an option that doesn’t involve demolition.
““My understanding is that council is considering whether there is another option that doesn’t involve demolition,” he told the Beach FM Breakfast Show.
Mr Best didn’t know whether this meant staff were still working through the issues or whether there was an interested party looking to take the kiosk away.
Late this afternoon, Council Group Manager, Infrastructure Services, Sean Mallon also confirmed with Beach FM that the council was now exploring alternative options to demolition.
Yus, I really couldn’t understand why the council would want to get rid of the kiosk, even when 99% of submitters wanted it gone.
The kiosk is the perfect money pit where hundreds of thousands of dollars can be channelled into for absolutely no return..
The council says there were 107 who submitted which is hardly a representative percentage of the Paraparaumu population. In our LTP submission we said we wanted them to do something about the dry pond, but otherwise it did not need any changes; unfortunately there are so many staff on the council payroll they think they need to come up with “make work” plans to keep them occupied.
I see a bit of shaming has helped the council do a 180 and they are now to take the kiosk away. Was on the radio this morning.
Will they change their mind again??