But shift-worker neighbours not keen on the idea

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 567, 20 December 1994, Page 1

But shift-worker neighbours not keen on the idea

Plans to build a kohanga reo in Karamu Place are on the verge of being confirmed, with the local group awaiting National Kohanga Reo funding approval to buy the section at 17 Karamu Place. However not everyone is happy about the proposal, with a group of residents against the proposal (see Letters, page 4). The residents say they are concemed about parking and noise problems. They say a large proportion of residents in the street are shift workers at Karioi pulp mill and will be trying to sleep when the kohanga reo is operating. Some are concerned their property values will drop. Kohanga reo spokesman John Anderson confirmed that plans are well under way for setting up the facility. He said he could not see that the kohanga reo would be a problem for residents. "Most of the time the children will be inside the kohanga reo learning," said Mr Anderson. " They won't be spending a whole lot of time running around outside." "It has to be all properly done — it's not some Mickey Mouse thing." He added that the 1.5 metre fence which they

have to build to meet Ministry of Education standards will act as a sound buffer. He called for neighbours to let the kohanga reo have a chance. He said he believed the opposition to it was because people did not understand what was proposed. None of the residents had approached him directly to ask about the proposal, he claimed. "It's a community oriented thing — anybody can use it at any time." He said the hours would be 9am - 3pm, with one monthly evening meeting held there and one regional meeting every five months. The kohanga reo already operates from premises in Ayr Street but is restricted in numbers to nine children. The new site would enable them to cater for up to 30 children. Mr Anderson said they had looked at several sites but had difficulties with gaining compliances, mainly because objections of neighbours. He said he had found people' s attitudes towards kohanga reo disappointing. "We're only talking about (a facility for) little kids." The facility could be less obtrusive than a residential building as no smoking and no alcohol was allowed on a kohanga reo day or night.

Because the Karamu Place site is Residential A zone, they can establish an educational facility as-of-right. Within their rights District planner Jeff Page confirmed that the kohanga reo had approached the council regarding the proposal. He said they had recently been issued a Certificate of Compliance, valid for two years, which allows them to set up the kohanga reo. He confirmed that under the present district scheme they have as much right to set up the kohanga reo as someone would have of building a residential house. Thev would have to meet all

building code regulations, he said. Mr Anderson said they had not yet applied for a building permit because

they were waiting tor tunding confirmation.

The plan is to move a relocatable building, 15 metres x 8.2

metres, onto the site. The ^

building is 15 years old, from a Baptist College in Auckland. It has new iron on the ^

roof, new cladding, new aluminium joinery, new carpet and fittings

inside, said Mr Anderson. Mr Anderson said they honed to have the

building on-sitein January 1995.