Gwen Rogers Kindergarten is withdrawing its application to expand the Macville Road pre-school in a move that takes it back to square one.
Since 2012 the Tauranga Region Kindergarten Association has unsuccessfully been seeking land in Mount Maunganui to build a new kindergarten.
The Gwen Rogers kindergarten on Macville Lane.
In March 2013 the kindergarten began looking at the alternative of expanding the Gwen Rogers Kindergarten.
Traffic congestion in Macville Park Lane is a major reason for withdrawing the application, says TRKA principal Peter Monteith.
The kindergarten is beside the Omanu Primary School and Peter says traffic in the congested lane barely works at present.
The carpark in the lane is used by sports groups, the Mount Maunganui College, Omanu School and the kindergarten. The carpark's congestion will increase with more use, and drivers cannot tell if the park is full unless they drive down the lane, then turn round and exit.
'We would like to continue to engage with council staff over some alternative home that council can assist us with,” says Peter.
'We do see a continuing need in the area.”
In Papamoa between Domain and Parton Roads there are 11 early childhood centres and 80 home-based centres, says Peter.
In Mount Maunganui there are three, or four, plus a handful of home-based centres, and there are still a reasonable amount of people with young families continuing to buy in the area.
There is still room for another kindergarten in the northern Mount Maunganui area and suggested the former Cossie Club building.
A submission the kindergarten rebuild on the vacant land on the intersection of Maunganui Road and Matai Street, was firmly resisted by Little Big Markets organiser Rachelle Duffy.
The markets operate on the section and Rachelle says the site beside Zespri was specifically selected so as not to antagonise the downtown retailers.
What do you think? Does Mount Maunganui need another pre-school?
6 comments
Another pre-school
Posted on 19-05-2014 17:40 | By Murray.Guy
The provision of pre-school facilities offering an extensive range of services levels and types is now very much a 'private sector' activity in 2014. I shudder at the thought of the former Mount Cozzy Club building being used, albeit an $8 million dollar white elephant providing NO return to our community. Hopefully the pro-museum folk will put egos, pride aside and consider using it for an 'interim museum, beginning by housing the Gate Pa Battle Commemoration display presently in the Greerton Hall, and adding to it. The Zespri site should be sold or rezoned recreational, using the Mount Development Impact Fees to compensate ratepayers and reduce debt! Ratepayers should not be in the pre-school business!
Why?
Posted on 19-05-2014 18:13 | By jed
Mt Maunganui population is not getting any bigger (no more land for houses) so where are these extra kids coming from? Spare land is a real issue at the Mount because everyone wants to be there and it is a peninsula.
Cozzy Club Museum
Posted on 20-05-2014 11:07 | By FunandGames
Give the Cozzy Club to the Museum people. nice and close to the cruse ships and not a bad layout. Also it exists and not being used.
@ Murray Guy comments
Posted on 20-05-2014 11:25 | By Councillorwatch
Kindergartens are operated by the Ministry of Education while pre-schools are usually private businesses. Either way I agree they're no business of ratepayers and ratepayers shouldn't be finding land for them. But why do you seem to support a ratepayer funded library bus that services some schools? Also, while you were a councillor council gave a $5 million cash injection to Baypark and purchased a Speedway business. What was your voting record as a councillor on those? Interesting that you insinuate that "pro-museum folk" have egos and pride and that they should put those aside. Have you ever considered doing the same?
Narrow minded
Posted on 20-05-2014 18:22 | By Whatdoesthefoxsay
Thank goodness Mr Guy is no longer a TCC councillor. When was the last time you actually visited an Kindergarten Association run facility sir? They are a most valuable resource for the young community and employ fully-trained staff. Council should encourage and assist in creating and maintaining such facilities rather than letting the city be taken over by large impersonal 'private sector' services. I know who I would prefer to be caring for our future citizens.
In reply to Whatdoesthefoxsay
Posted on 21-05-2014 19:23 | By Murray.Guy
It is a few years since I visited a Kindergarten Association run facility and have no reason to doubt the quality of the service provided. I have visited private sector providers many times over recent years and totally reject your comment as having NO validity, 'Council should encourage and assist in creating and maintaining such facilities rather than letting the city be taken over by large impersonal 'private sector' services.' Service value aside, that only serves as a typical distraction. Nothing I wrote refers to the quality of the service, but questions whether rates are a valid use to compete with the private sector. Councillorwatch is as mischievous as usual noting the provision of a mobile library to low decile schools doesn't compete with a private sector service.
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