The Rodney Local Board has been told that the relocation of the Rodney Women's Centre is not its problem.
The Women’s Centre is one of two Warkworth Town Hall tenants who have been ordered to vacate the hall by the end of next month, on the grounds that the building is no longer structurally safe. The other is the barber.
Centre coordinator Colleen Julian addressed the board at its meeting on February 13 to support an application for emergency funding to assist the centre relocate.
She said although a suitable house, near the town centre, had been identified, it was unlikely that it could be brought up to Council and workplace health and safety standards by the March 31 eviction deadline. The cost of alterations to make it suitable for the centre would be in the order of $30,000 to $35,000.
“Our services have been based at the Town Hall for 26 years and are essential, and we don’t want to see them lost to the community,” Colleen said.
In a later discussion on the future of the hall, board relationship manager Lesley Jenkins said the centre only had month-by-month tenure, and their relocation was not the board’s problem.
“We have put options to them but they’re not particularly interested in looking at them,” she said. “Their requirement for ‘exclusive use’ is the problem. Technically they are a commercial business, even though they’re a community service.”
Board member June Turner asked if there was any possibility of the deadline being extended.
In response, Tracey Martin said she did not want the liability for anyone being harmed or hurt.
Steve Garner said he would be concerned if the board “turfed” the Womens Centre out just for the sake of a month.
“It’s about the roof,” Tracey said. “No-one has been up there to see what state it is in and we just can’t take the risk.”
Warren Flaunty asked if the kitchen, added on in more recent times, was also dangerous.
“Perhaps they could move in there?” he said.
“It’s the whole building that’s dangerous,” Ms Jenkins said.
John Mclean asked if any other Council building in the area might be suitable.
“Have we really exhausted every alternative?” he said.
Published 21 February 2012
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