Lions hope to donate town clock to Greerton village square

Lions members Neil Motion and Alan Paterson in Greerton village square. Photo/George Novak

"I'll meet you under the clock."

It's a phrase the Greerton Lions hope people will be able to use by Christmas.

The club wants to donate a 4.7-metre high traditional main street clock to the city, to be installed in the Greerton village square outside the library - if they can get Tauranga City Council's permission.

The Lions have spent nine months raising the $18,000 it will take to have the electric clock made by a United States company and shipped to New Zealand, but have been told they may need to find thousands more for the installation.

Greerton Lion Alan Paterson said the group envisaged the clock as a focal point for the square, which had not had one since the rotunda was removed in 2015 to make way for the library construction.

"People can make arrangements to meet friends in the village by saying 'I'll meet you under the Lions clock'," he said.

"It's our way of thanking our community for their support."

Paterson said the plan originated with the Welcome Bay Lions as a project to mark the Lions' centenary, which ended in June. The project was then led by Neil Motion.

Paterson said the clock had then been intended for Red Square in the Tauranga CBD, but it was later decided it would be a better match for the more traditional style of Greerton Village, and the project was handed over to the Greerton Lions.

The Lions talked to the Greerton Village Community Association and canvassed a few people on the street and everyone was keen so they went ahead and raised the money.

Mainstreet manager Sally Benning said the association committee was very supportive of the idea.

"Every town needs a town clock," she said. "We are hopeful they can achieve what they have set out to do."

Business owners and workers in the area said they wanted to know more about exactly where the clock would go in the square and what it would look like before deciding if they liked the idea.

Paterson presented the plan to Tauranga City Council last month.

Councillors said it was a "great idea" and asked staff to look into what would be involved in installing it.

Paterson said he had since heard from council staff that the installation costs could be up to $10,000 as the postal clock would need a big concrete footing.

Paterson said the club hoped to persuade the council to foot the bill for the insulation but also planned to look into some grant options.

The clock

- Electric
- 4.72 metres tall
- 91cm nominal dial
- Based on 1890s pattern
- Made from cast aluminium
- Analogue, with Roman numerals
- Available in a range of colours.

Source: Electric Time Company