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Demonstration on Friday 11th November outside the Maheke Monster

Westpac, the first business to move into the building on the corner of Tamaki Drive and Maheke Street opens its doors on November 7th. SOS think that we should mark this unfortunate occasion with a protest that nothing has changed since the Turua Street demolitions and the village is still under threat.

Despite the best efforts of the Orakei Local Board the Auckland Council is refusing to make any changes to planning processes or the Village Centre Plan for at least five years.

SOS think this is not good enough and want to make our feelings known to the Council and to the developers.

The attached flyer gives the details of what we are hoping to achieve.

Please join us on Friday 11th and Saturday 12th morning from 10am opposite the ‘Maheke Monster’ on Tamaki Drive. Invite your friends and neighbours and anyone who cares about St Heliers.

Our presence will demonstrate that we have NOT gone away. We still care about our Village and want to protect it from any further inappropriate development.

Nearly a year after the demolition of the entire eastern side of Turua Street, residents of St Heliers are appalled that the Auckland Council is blocking efforts to protect the village.

‘After a year of going through the “correct channels” we are no further ahead’ says Sally Hughes, Chair of Save Our St Heliers, Inc. ‘We have made submissions, we have presented a survey of 1600 residents’ views to Council committees, and we have met with officials. The message from all of them is that nothing can be done. We have had enough’ she said.

Residents fear that Council inaction will lead to the total destruction of the character of the village centre, as one by one the small-scale shops are torn down to make way for inappropriately large commercial developments. They plan to give voice to their outrage by protesting the opening of a new building at 387 Tamaki Drive, this Friday 11th and Saturday 12th of November.

Known by locals as the “Maheke Monster”, this concrete tilt-slab edifice towers 12.5 metres, over the village, in stark contrast to existing character. This development symbolises how Council favours developers over community wishes, residents have said.

Margaret King, a longtime resident of St Heliers, summed it up. ‘In 2009 the Council promised the community that the St Heliers Centre Plan would protect and enhance St Heliers. Look at what has happened since! This ugly building does not belong here,’ says Ms King. ‘We want to show the Council we are well aware of their failings when it comes to the preservation of unique character and built heritage. Residents in communities Auckland-wide should refuse to turn a blind eye to the destruction of their communities’.

With over 400 members, Save Our St Heliers was formed after the demolition of three Spanish Mission and two Victorian cottages in Turua Street in January this year. The Society took the case to the Environment Court, aided by National Business Review founder Barry Coleman. Judge Laurie Newhook gave no weight to public opinion and the demolition went ahead. Members of SOS have been working with the Orakei Local Board in an attempt to change Council processes and to afford more protection to the remaining character of the village centre. However, Council staff are adamant that nothing can be changed until the new Auckland Plan comes into effect in approximately five years time. ‘This will be too late’ says Sally Hughes. ‘The village we know and love will be gone by then’.

Demonstration details – Friday 11th and Saturday 12th from 10am opposite 387 Tamaki Drive St Heliers.

Brian Rudman says the Mayor is finally putting his money where his mouth is

‘This week, Auckland councillors put our money where the mayor’s mouth has loudly been, and pledged some serious dollars towards protecting the city’s built heritage.

They deserve our thanks. It’s the sort of civilised gesture now possible in a super city of our size and, to their credit, our politicians have seized the moment, agreeing to invest an initial $10.3 million in a Built Heritage Protection Fund in the 2011/12 year, then $4.6 million in following years.’

Will this make enough of a difference to save our most treasured buildings like the St James let alone small suburban centres like St Heliers. While the current planning processes and attitudes to development within the council planning departments and the environment court remain much of what we love is still at risk.

Celebrate St Heliers on Saturday 11th February

On the anniversary of the destruction of Turua Street join SOS on a walk to celebrate the character of St Heliers.

The walks begin at the St Heliers Library (our only heritage building) at 10am and 12 noon on Saturday 11th February. They are informal and will be guided by members of SOS who are not heritage experts, just enthusiastic locals. We will take in a number of character buildings down the main street of the Village and then walk around to Turua Street to remember the seven lost buildings on the eastern side. Some local history all be recounted and we will be encouraging locals to share stories along the way. There will be a small pamphlet to accompany the walk.

Alex Dempsey led two very successful walks last Saturday

Over 60 people enjoyed hearing about the buildings in the village and the businesses that had occupied them over the years. The walks were held to celebrate the character of St Heliers and commemorate the loss of 100 years of history and heritage in Turua Street this time last year.