Table of Contents
Field visit
Prior to our board meeting, we visited Steadfast, located in Cass Bay. During our visit, we met with Jenny Healey, Chairperson of the Cass Bay Residents’ Association, and committee member Noeline Allan. They kindly provided us with an update on the Association’s ongoing project at the Steadfast site.
The Cass Bay Residents’ Association has expressed a desire for the demolition of the existing garage building on the property. They have requested that the board consider supporting this proposal, and grant approval for them to proceed with their plans. Their vision is to raise the necessary funds to construct a new multi-use community facility, either on or close to the site currently occupied by the garage.
The new facility is intended to serve a wide range of purposes, providing a valuable community asset that would benefit local residents and enhance community cohesion.
Background notes provided to the board members
Cass Bay Residents Association
Notes on their progress to develop a community facility and Emergency Hub.
- Maori called this bay Motukauatirahi/Cass bay which means the “the big fire making grove” because they came here to collect Kaikomako and mahoe trees to make fire.
These species have been reintroduced to the reserve as part of the Cass Bay community’s regeneration plans. - In most recent European times this area was farmed by the Allan and Wallace families up until it was acquisitioned to become the “Cass Bay Armament Depot” in 1945, Noeline Allan has lived here all oh her life.
- Cass Bay locals had a good relationship with the personnel and joined them for movie evenings and other activities.
- The “garage” was bought and hurriedly relocated form HMNZS Tasman in Lyttelton in 1956, where is had been a shipwright’s shop, to house large vehicles. We have a signed affidavit from Robert Allan who witnessed this happening. It was described at the time as in very poor condition due to lack of maintenance and re-erected by the resident personnel due to lack of funds to employ contractors.
Robert also states that the shed next to the “garage” was relocated from another site within the depot, where it had been probably used as a garden shed. At a later date, the Navey cadets relocated it to its current position and had to largely rebuitt it due to its poor condition. - 1965-the first sections were sold in the new Cass Bay subdivision. The Navy Cadets were given permission to use some of the government buildings.
- About the end of the 1980’s the Navy Cadets substantially altered the “garage” to use the building as a classroom and store.
- In the 1990’s the building was used by locals from Cass Bay and Corsair Bay for a popular weekly playgroup.
The Cass Bay community had an ongoing involvement with the buildings which were also used for social functions like barn dances, pot luck dinners and Halloween parties, as well as Residents Association meetings.
In 2006 When Banks Peninsula District Council amalgamated with Christchurch City Council a meeting was held between the CCC, Cass Bay Residents Association, Navy Cadets and Brian Downey (who had a nursery on site) and it was deemed that the buildings would not suit the communities needs and the gates were locked which prevented local access. The other organisations continued to use the space. - 2020- the Cass Bay community stated a riparian planting project as part of the Whaka Ora Healthy Harbour Initiative. They have since planted 10000 natives and continue to also develop the reserve and new tracks with over 2000 volunteer hours last year.
- January 2024- the gates were opened to allow public access again.