Dear Karori Campus supporters, As you are no doubt aware, late last year Victoria University (VUW) finally triggered the Public Works Act (PWA) by declaring the campus surplus. This set in place a fairly rigid process to be followed. Here are the brief highlights to date: - PWA Step 1 - 'Other Public Works'. The Ministry of Education has registered two interests in the campus under 'other public works'. The first was to become Landlord for the two early childhood centres on Campbell Street, who were threatened with eviction by the disposal process being undertaken by VUW. The second was an interest in the southern part of the site from Donald Street to Campbell Street along where the netball/tennis courts, cricket nets and green spaces are currently located. This second interest is with a view to developing an innovative Technology Hub for central Wellington primary schools (going beyond woodwork and cooking!), as well as providing almost half a rugby field of outdoor space for Karori Normal School (KNS). There is scope for the KNS space to still include netball and tennis courts and this is looking to be co-developed by Wellington City Council (WCC) for that reason. - WCC has also registered an 'other public works' interest in the area immediately adjacent to the Karori Pool car park. This is purely for adding additional carparking capacity for the swimming pool. - PWA Step Two - 'Offer back'. VUW is obligated, in certain cases, to offer back properties to the descendants of the original owners. As some may have seen, this has occurred with 27 Campbell Street, a house sitting next to the RSA building. - PWA Step Three - 'Disposal on the open market'. This is where the process is quickly heading. Yes in case you missed it, if a key part of the campus wasn't listed above, then there is no safeguard for its future. No hall, no dance studio, no gym, no marae, no green space and netball/tennis courts subject to confirmation. So now what? WCC have been very supportive of the community, but feel unable to make large commitments on behalf of ratepayers, or invoke the PWA 'other public works' clauses for the current public uses of the campus. The direction we are getting from Council is to look at forming a community trust that could own and administer a combination of private and public facilities on the Campus, with operating support from them. The concept of securing a number of anchor tenants in some of the fine existing buildings on the campus, is key to its viability - as well as being able to afford the asking price from VUW. The opportunities presented are not just in the arts and recreation space, as there is massive potential in the existing buildings, which includes commercial kitchens, masses of office space, through to a full production television studio! If you have a potential interest in using any part of the code compliant buildings on the campus, then please get in touch. Things we learn along the way: Whilst the PWA is often talked about with respect to 'market prices', in the main it only actually requires that a price for the transfer of title 'be agreed between the two parties'. So there remains scope for VUW to support the community in securing some of the site for future community use. Lets not lose sight of that as we work through the remainder of the PWA process. If you can help us - please get in touch. regards Save Karori Campus Campaign karoricampus@gmail.com