Chair’s update – March 2026
30 March 2026
The Chair of the Body Corporate Committee, Michael Wallmannsberger, gives an update on Freemans Park.
Key updates: a May EGM will seek approval for a revised 30-year maintenance plan; demolition of 1/57A expected within 3-6 months; and miscellaneous operational improvements including a new grounds contractor, new resident app, new website, and stricter parking rules.
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the EGM on 23 March 2026, in person or online – the turnout was great. All four resolutions were passed. The amended operational rules have now been registered with LINZ. The Committee is also progressing the details for installing heat pumps in star block units, ahead of a formal vote on licences to occupy at a future general meeting.
EGM in May to consider updates to the LTMP
We plan to hold another EGM in May. Owners will be asked to approve an updated 30-year Long-Term Maintenance Plan, which the Committee will develop through April. The revised plan will give new projections of work priorities and levy requirements over the next few years, and will be presented to owners before budgets for the new financial year are set.
1/57A and 55A Hepburn Street demolition and flood mitigation
Ten of the eleven Category 3 units have now been purchased by Auckland Council. The remaining unit at 55A is expected to follow shortly.
Demolition of 1/57A
Engineering analysis has confirmed that removing this unit almost certainly will be sufficient to address the obstruction in the overland flow path. We do not need to also remove 2/57A, which is good news given the complexity that would have been involved because Kāinga Ora units are not eligible for Category 3 buyout. Auckland Council is preparing the required consents to demolish 1/57A. The Committee will give the Body Corporate’s approval to proceed once Council has satisfied all legal, health and safety, and consenting requirements, and we have an agreed plan for managing the impact on nearby owners during the works. We expect that to happen within the next three to six months. The 55A building will follow a similar process once the final unit is sold to Council.
What happens after the buildings come down?
There are still some significant questions to answer before we can work out what to do with the empty land. There are two remaining flood issues that the demolitions will not resolve – the car parks at 142 Howe Street, which are at risk of flooding, and the ground floor of 79 Beresford Street West, which is still excluded from flood insurance. We are looking at upgrading the drainage outside 79 BSW as an immediate step. For the longer term, we are working with Auckland Council and our engineers on options that could meaningfully further reduce flood risk across the park.
One encouraging finding from a recent engineering analysis is that there appears to be a slight rise in the land level at the point where water exits our property. The experts suggest that if we can lower that exit point, we may be able to reduce the level of the floodplain within Freemans Park by up to around 30 centimetres. That would be a meaningful improvement.
We have also been talking with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, given their interest in the Tuna Mau stream, which has been very helpful as we identify potential solutions. Initial analysis by the Body Corporate’s experts suggests it would be feasible to bring the stream to the surface, without disturbing the large trees we have in the flow path. Whether that happens, and at what scale, depends on decisions Auckland Council has yet to make about the broader water catchment area. We are presenting our case to Auckland Council and waiting on their analysis and feedback. In the meantime, the Body Corporate will continue to do everything within our own capacity to reduce flood risk to our buildings.
Auckland Council will also need to formally exit the Body Corporate once the demolitions are complete. That process – which involves redrawing the unit plan, new titles, mortgagee notifications – is legally complex and will take time. Council has indicated it will fund the work involved.
New website – freemanspark.co.nz
Our new website is now live. It reflects the updated Freemans Park identity and covers the development, its history, grounds, and architecture. It also provides a platform for marketing private sales, and sales using an agent. My thanks to Rick Foxwell and Simon Lambourne for the considerable work they put into building the website and the team of owners who volunteered over several years to help steer our improved identity and communications.
New grounds maintenance team – Bark
We are pleased to welcome Bark as our new grounds maintenance contractor. Bark was selected following a value for money review and a competitive tender process that drew several strong bids. They especially stood out on the strength of their experience maintaining some of New Zealand's leading private and public gardens. We think Freemans Park's grounds – one of the things that makes this a genuinely special place to live – are in excellent hands. Take a look at their work at bark.co.nz
One change that we think residents will particularly appreciate: Bark operates an all-electric equipment fleet. Noise from petrol-powered garden machinery has been a recurring concern raised by residents over the years, so this is a welcome shift. It also means we are not exposed to the fuel cost volatility and supply uncertainty that are back in the news, which is a sensible position to be in for a contractor relationship that we expect to be long-term.
MYBOS Resident App
The MYBOS Resident app lets residents submit maintenance requests, message the Body Corporate, use the community marketplace, and much more. Using it means your requests are logged and tracked properly. If you are a landlord, please let your tenants know about it – it is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play. Contact office@freemanspark.co.nz for a login.
Parking in Waiatarau Lane
We have had a number of complaints about misuse of the general resident parking area in Waiatarau Lane. To make sure these nine shared spaces are being used fairly by residents, from Monday 30 March 2026 we will be asking all users to display a valid 2026 resident vehicle permit (windscreen sticker or dashboard card) and to not leave vehicles for more than 24 hours. To get your permit, email office@freemanspark.co.nz with your name, unit address, vehicle details and preferred format.
Vehicles parked in breach of the general signage rules across the park continue to be at risk of towing, and both warnings and towings have increased recently. Please check the signs if you are unsure. Please also let us know the vehicle registration numbers that are associated with your unit. You can do this in MYBOS or by emailing office@freemanspark.co.nz. That way, we’ll be able to contact you directly if there is a problem with your vehicle, and this might help to avoid a situation where your vehicle would otherwise be towed.