Council has agreed to help investigate the potential for a new indoor market in Te Awamutu.
The Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community Board has recommended Council consider using the original Holmes Garage building at 90 Mahoe St for a covered indoor market and events venue. The Board’s recommendation follows work by the Te Awamutu Business Chamber and others in the town.
Council purchased 90 Mahoe Street in 2016 and currently leases it on a monthly basis at a peppercorn rent. Currently the building has a National Building Standard (NBS) score of 25 per cent and is considered earthquake prone. The building is adjacent to 74 Mahoe Street, which is also owned by Council.
Waipā District Council’s deputy chief executive Ken Morris said despite the building being in poor condition Council agreed the site had “massive potential” and noted the area had already been tagged as ripe for re-invigoration.
“We think there’s real merit in considering the proposal and we applaud those in the community involved, including the Te Awamutu Business Chamber, the Community Board and others,” Morris said.
“We’re keen to think any proposal through thoroughly and with good strategic consideration. We acknowledge the site is pivotal to the ongoing development of the Te Awamutu CBD.”
Feedback from past discussions with the community and from mana whenua would need to be taken into account before any decisions were made, Morris said.
At today’s Finance and Corporate Committee meeting, elected members agreed to fund a $25,000 investigation into urban design considerations for this area of town, including the concept of an indoor market. Money would come from funds tagged for town concept planning for Te Awamutu.
The investigation will consider implications of other nearby Council-owned properties in Mahoe Street, the likely costs to bring the proposal to life, feedback from previous community consultation processes and planned streetscape improvements. The investigation should be complete by November this year.
