Coasties were dismayed to discover on Tuesday morning that the newly installed 18m x 2.4m sign on the vacant land at Millwater Parkway and Silverdale Street had been defaced overnight.

Erected by Ivan and his team from Craft Carpentry NZ just a day earlier, the sign quickly became a topic of heated discussion on social media.

By Wednesday afternoon, Ivan’s team had efficiently addressed the issue, painting over the vandalism. “We will keep an eye on the sign’s condition until the permanent wrap is installed,” Ivan stated.

The purpose of the sign, along with its smaller counterpart on Stella Maris Lane, has garnered local interest.

Farhad Moinfar, Director at Citadel Capital, informed the Hibiscus Coast App that Citadel Capital recently entered into an agreement with the Catholic Dioceses of Auckland to acquire the site.

The 9.8-hectare land at the junction of Silverdale and Millwater is now under consideration for development.

“We are currently working with our professional team at a planning and conceptual stage to explore the options for development of this remarkable site. Our view is that there is no other piece of real estate in Auckland which compares to this—in terms of the potential afforded by its direct proximity to living, working, learning, and recreational amenities,” Moinfar said.

“Once we have developed our concept for the site further, we will be more than happy to provide more information” he added.

The land, originally zoned for educational purposes, is set for a new development project named Millwater Crossing.

Further details about the project will be provided as they become available.