A vacant site on the fringe of the Queenstown Events Centre’s been chosen for a community hub to house various support agencies.
Mountain Scene revealed last week a memorandum of understanding for Queenstown Community Hub Charitable Trust to use land at Remarkables Park had lapsed.
More recently, Queenstown’s council advertised for expressions of interest for “potential community-focused social service uses” for Events Centre land immediately west of The Crown Pub and Beer Garden.
It’s understood this land will be leased for up to 30 years to the community hub trust to enable it to establish premises there.
Last week the Whakatipu Community Hub Charitable Trust presented its case to Queenstown’s council and got a “conditional thumbs up”.
Chair John MacDonald says both council and the trust have identified the “real difficulties” faced by community organisations to secure long-term, affordable, rental and co-working spaces.
“With ever-increasing rents and lack of suitable space, groups like Happiness House, Plunket and Queenstown Lakes Family Centre urgent need to find operational space that’s both permanent and suitable.”
The facility needs to be central, accessible and future-proofed for the community and the trust has identified Frankton Flats as the preferred location.
“We are hopeful the process will secure this community land for this purpose and co-purposes such as providing a central social hub to support Civil Defence resilience plans.
“Covid showed us the importance of a community place where people can go for support and help,” MacDonald says.
Council’s expecting to make a decision on a draft least early next year.
Meantime, the trust’s continuing to plan, which includes extensive research into community needs, looking at similar facilities elsewhere and investigating fundraising options.
