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VALLEY VOICE TE REO HAPORI O WAIMAPIHI --APRIL-- NEWS AND VIEWS FROM AROUN D THE ARO VVALLEY PAENGA WHA WHA Aro Valley’s history -- blink and you’ll miss it! The demolition of the old bakehouse at the bottom of Devon Street by its developer owners has placed the value of the City Council’s ‘Heritage Area’ designation into question. The Aro Valley Community Council led a challenge to the development last month, seeking a Court injunction preventing demolition subject to review of the WWellington City Council’s decision-making processes. The application to demolish was made Aro Street last year by Aro Holdings Ltd. c/- David Gibson for Spencer Holmes Ltd and Council ignored its own requirement approved in a decision in September, to look for reuse (eg by incorporating 4 Square when Council granted non-notied the building into a new development) resource consent, meaning that the public before demolition. The bakehouse willill to close had no opportunity to object. be replaced by two townhouses. There is The AVCC challenged the ruling but, inin no evidence the developer ever looked at The proprietors of the 4 Square the words of Co-chair Roland Sapsford, whether some element of the bakehouse superette at 103 Aro Street “we hit a very unsympathetic judge”. could be retained. have lost their lease, and are The building was demolished in its The developer has proposed to install a due to close their business on entirety at the end of last month. signage display or plaque on the Devon 2 July. Architect and Conservator-for-hire, Ian Street wall of 96 Aro Street, “related to the Aro Valley Shopping Centre Heritage The dairy’s leaseholder, Manjula Patel, Bowman, (who provided heritage reports Area itself, or associated buildings and/ who has operated the business and held on many of the buildings removed or or activities undertaken (currently or the lease since 2000, says that when the demolished for the bypass), provided the historically) within this area” lease came up for review in March, the ofcial assessment of heritage effects for The Council’s Heritage Advisor, Trevor building’s owner told her that they would the developer’s application, concluding Keppel endorsed this approach: “Based not renew it, and the shop would have to that “the‘bakehouse’ building contributes on the advice of Mr Keppel and given close. little to the heritage values of the the intended content of the proposed sign The building’s owner, Has Patel, owns Heritage Area.” display or plaque, the associated effects several other commercial properties on Bowman said that the Aro Street on historic heritage are considered to be the same side of Aro street. Future plans Shopping Centre Heritage Area less than minor,” the report said. for the site are unknown. was listed in the District Plan for its Built more than 100 years ago, the Majula Patel regrets the closure, and attributes as a: “highly authentic, unusual historic structure would have says that she is keen to re-establish largely homogenous, late 19th century baked buns for the boys who went off to the superette elsewhere, but is having shopping area, which contains buildings war from the Aro Valley in 1914. May difculty nding a suitable location in representative of the styles, scales, details we all remember it. the area. and materials of the era”and contended (No plaque please!!! - Editor) “I love to serve the Aro community that: “The bakehouse contributes little as a business person, as I have had lots to these values as it is not similar to the of support from this community in last other commercial buildings being single fteen years. It’s been a great privilege,” storey, of a different design and of little she said. authenticity”. She had approached Has Patel more In other words, it was unique. Dating than once to try to re-lease the property from an era when re services were but had been turned down. scarce and bakeries had separate baking Members of the community have areas so that res did not destroy the expressed concern for the loss of this main building, the Devon Street ‘shed’ important local amenity. YY. ou can contact was likely the last of these bakehouses in Manjula on: [email protected] the Wellington region. “Not a strong contributor to the streetscape of In approving demolition, the City Devon Street” - Wellington City Council 2 NEWS AND VIEWS FROM AROUND THE VALLEY APRIL 2015 Polhill pines to go COMING SOON.... Community Co- The Wellington City Council will soon be removing several pine ordinator leaves trees from Polhill Reserve that are overhanging or within fall distance on high note of a private property. The council Aro Valley Community Co-ordinator, says the structure of these trees, Kelvin Aris has resigned from the role, combined with their location, to pursue other interests. This follows makes them a potential hazard to a second successful fair, and two Above: Artist’s impression of the two the surrounding area, which is on productive years spent in the role. townhouses destined for the site of the the ridge south of Holloway Road. old bakehouse on lower Devon Street “It’s been great getting to know every- The work will be carried out by the (see cover story: ‘Aro Valley’s history’) one in the Valley, and I won’t be too far council’s contractors. This is expected to away. You haven’t seen the last of me,” start on Monday 13 April and to take 2-3 Correction says Aris, who now lives in Newtown. weeks, weather permitting. The AVCC Committee has made a To minimise impact on the surrounding Re the article on cats in decision to divide the Community vegetation, the trees will be removed by March’s issue, we would like to Co-ordinator’s role into two part-time sectional felling, with wood and foliage apologise to Angela Campbell positions of an Administrator and a left onsite clear of the paths. The area for printing her name as Angela Developer, for 20 hours a week each will be left to naturally regenerate, taking Nash. We sincerely regret the These are currently being advertised advantage of the native seed sources error. (Applications close 21 April. see Notice within the reserve. below). For safety reasons, public access to Josephine Brien and Lynsey Ferrari are the work site will be restricted for the Aro Valley’s temporarily lling the Community Co- duration of the project. Tracks will be ordinator role until the new appointments closed at junctions, and alternative routes fruitful history are made by the Management Committee of the AVCC - comprising Roland put in place. Do you know the history of any of Sapsford, Lisa Thompson and Rachel the fruit trees in the valley? Sarah Grifths. Better, cleaner, cheaper Adams from the Wellington City _________________________________ buses submission guide Council is on the hunt for old trees Regional Councillors Paul Bruce and with a known history around the Work for Aro Valley! Aro Valley. Sue Kedgley Two new roles at the Community We encourage you to send in Heritage fruit trees are an important Centre part of our settler history: they are often submissions to Greater Wellington • Community Developer Regional Council (GWRC) during lesser known varieties and are examples the Annual and long term plan of trees which grow well in the Welling- • Community Administrator (LTP) consultation period through ton climate. Trees collected through this Both 15-20 hrs per week programme will have cuttings taken from to 20th April requesting a better, Applications close 21 April 2015 cleaner, cheaper bus plan be them and will be grown to be planted in For full details see the ads on brought forward from 2017 to now. sites around the city. We know there are a number of heritage www.dogoodjobs.co.nz The Wellington bus review consulted on tree around the valley, for example the or email the Community Centre Ofce: over the last 5 years, will not come about Holloway Road damson plum. But we’d [email protected] until after the completion of the new like to know more. Who planted it? _________________________________ bus tender round in 2017, and perhaps When was it planted? Or take the apple not even then, due to the difculty of tree in Holloway Rd adopting a Bus Rapid Transit system playground – what with bendy and/or double decker hybrid variety is it? When buses. The scrapping of our trolley bus was it planted? Are services are likely to add to the delays. there other heritage We do not think this is satisfactory. trees whose history We are calling for a “better buses” 5 you know? point plan ahead of the implementation If you have any of the new tenders: information about • Zero fare Saturday buses in Welling- the history of any of ton city the older fruit trees • Free bus transfers within Wellington in the area, or you city know someone who • Half price student fares does, please contact • Cleaning up the bus eet Sarah Adams at • Safer school buses sarah.adams@ Go to: www.paulbruce.co.nz/better- wcc.govt.nz. wellington-buses-submission-guide/ - - NEWS AND VIEWS FROM AROUND THE VALLEY PAENGA WHA WHA 2015 3 Arolympics triumphant Aro Valley’s bid to host the 2078 Summer Olympic Games is one step closer. History was made in the Valley on Friday the 20 March 2015 with the opening ceremony of the Arolympics. The Olympic torch was run through the valley, igniting the Olympic spirit as it went. Starting from the top of Holloway Rd carried by Moses Buda, down Aro St and up Epuni carried on by Miles Buckingham and then eventually into the Olympic stadium carried by Hayden Thomson of Aro Street .

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