Right now the Dominion Post is running a public opinion poll on the future of the Maranui Surf Club and Cafe.
At this stage the Council’s preferred option appears to be demolishing Maranui and its three adjacent buildings to create a brand spanking new "Super Building". You can hear the collective groans from here.
It was the heritage and character of the building which made it such a popular destination for Wellingtonians and out-of-towners alike. As a Lyall Bay resident it’s been obvious how desolate the Bay has become since the fire.
Let the City Council know what you think via the poll right now.
In the meantime….you can get your Maranui fix with their world-famous salads, available now from Moore Wilson’s Fresh. Apparently the punnets are big enough for two.
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Cold comfort though.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
oh shucks it’s not a problem etc etc etc.
Anyway – pencil in 22 October for the public meeting. Time and venue to be confirmed – but the venue will most certainly not be one of the three unburnt buildings on the beach because they’re all way too small…
It might be worth keeping an open mind on this. The Maranui building has been massively damaged by the fire. The Lyall Bay surf club wanted to build a much bigger, essentially "brand spanking new" building to meet their own current needs. Both clubs had been leasing space in other buildings on the foreshore. And any building here should take into account possible sea level rises.
Perhaps looking at the bigger picture, including other public and community facilities, is not a bad idea when considering how to spend public money on rebuilding what was obviously a much-loved place. There’s nothing in the DomPost article or the original council news release to suggest that a single new building is the preferred option, and research will have to be done before the options are presented to the councillors and public.
While I can appreciate that the residents of Island Bay want their cafe back – it’s only a cafe! There are dozens of great cafes in Wellington where you can get your latte, bacon and eggs!
I support Council looking at the bigger picture and using the unfortunate accident to properly review different options for us, the public. To not do so would be remiss. Since our rates will pay for whatever is finally decided (most likely to be one of four options presented at last night’s public hearing), I support a proper review from which will hopefully recommend a sustainable option – an option which is best for the Capital as a whole, and not just a small number of Maranui Surf Club members and regular cafe visitors. These people it seems have a very strong opinion that Council should just rebuild the cafe. I struggle to see why my rate paying dollars should pay for a cafe or prop up a commercial enterprise! If this is what is decided, then so be it. But first let there be a due process free of any bully boy tactics from short-sighted Maranui supporters.
Signed: on behalf of ALL ratepayers
Those salads are amazingly tasty and good for the vegan and/or gluten-free people of Wellington, which is more than can be said about most of the stuff at Mojo or Wishbone. Sure, you can eat similarly at Deluxe, but not with the amazing views.
For Pete’s sake! They’re packaging Maranui now?! I’m thinking Wishbone … Pondering Mojo … I’ll probably be lynched at dawn for saying this, but quit weeping over a cafe for crying out loud! Maranui will return like a phoenix and everyone can get back in the queue for scrambled eggs and a t-shirt and everything will be just swell. Amen.
Oh Richard, you know we have no equals…
Greetings – just a point of clarification (and I agree with Tom) that the Council certainly doesn’t have a ‘preferred option’ re Lyall Bay beach and this debate.
The reason we want to have a debate is because the issues relating to the fire and the two surf clubs and the cafe and the various buildings etc etc on the beach are…complicated. And it looks like a lot of money will have to be spent.
At the moment we’re trying to finalise a possible date and venue for a public meeting – you’ll be the first among media equals to know when anything’s confirmed.
cheers
Richard MacLean – WCC Ext Comms
i love maranui
i went there for the food and the atmosphere, some of which was the building, but mostly it was in how the place was decorated.
I’d liike to see maranui back but i think it’s good that the council is exploring all options, before making a decision. I hope that they have a public meeting and also that they allow public submissions so all voices can be heard.
In some ways Maranui is a bit like crossways, while emotions may be with an established building sometimes economically and for the community it’s just a bad call.
Could maranui exist in a different building?
Woops – I obviously meant Lyall Bay and not Island Bay!!
It’s a little difficult to keep an open mind when dealing with a city council that allows an insurance policy with a $500,000 excess on one of their buildings. “A building located on the beach? What could possibly go wrong? And think how much we’ll save on monthly premiums!”
The public meeting is now booked for 22 October, 7.30pm – 9.30pm, at St Catherine’s College Hall – 14 Upper Bourke Street, Kilbirnie.
cheers
Richard MacLean – WCC Ext Comms
Thanks very much for keeping us updated Richard, we appreciate it!
If only they sold their oaty fruit slices of heaven there as well.
One can dream.
In the meantime….you can get your Maranui fix with their world-famous salads, available now from Moore Wilson’s Fresh.
This makes me very happy indeed.