All three Flat Bush members campaigned on delivering them, and the money has moved to 2028
Most of the $83 million set aside for a pool and library in Flat Bush has been pushed out again, to 2028-30 and 2032-34.
The Howick Local Board said last year it had won the money “to deliver on the promise made nearly twenty years ago”.
Auckland Council said in July 2025 that a review of the project would report back to the Board in early 2026.
It has not.
Staff briefed members on the new timeline at a workshop on Thursday 30 July, and the Board said on its Facebook page that the review “has taken longer than originally anticipated, resulting in project timelines being extended and funding being rephased”.
Board member Damian Light said the delay had cost the project its impetus.
“I was disappointed by this delay,” he wrote.
“We seem to be losing the momentum we built last term at a critical point.”
“Residents of Flat Bush have waited long enough, paying development contributions and rates for facilities they don’t have.”
All three members elected to represent Flat Bush last year campaigned on the facilities.
Peter Young, who topped the subdivision vote, listed as his first priority: “Follow up Flat Bush’s first library, aquatic centre and community halls to completion.”
Deputy Chairperson Kai Zeng, elected second, listed his as: “Build Flat Bush’s first public pool, library, youth hub and proper public halls.”
Krish Naidu, elected third, named no facility in his candidate statement, promising “overdue facilities delivered faster”.
The Board did deliver something in April, opening a temporary library at Ormiston Town Centre at a cost of $489,000.
Light said at the time that the community had waited two decades for it.
“For nearly 20 years Flat Bush has been promised a library but council has struggled to provide one,” he wrote.
“While it’s taken far too long for the full facilities to make the progress we need, this temporary service has been delivered at incredible speed.”
He said then that the Board was “expecting a report soon” on the permanent facilities.
Four months later it had not arrived.
The next workshop is expected in September, on priorities, trade-offs and affordability.
