A Queenstown charitable trust’s asking for public support to help it achieve a goal, almost four years in the making.
The Whakatipu Community Hub Charitable Trust, set up in 2019, wants to provide sustainable, affordable and well-maintained meeting rooms and offices for the charity, social and community groups which support the Basin, and its communities.
Chair John MacDonald says the project began when Queenstown’s council and the trust identified the difficulties community organisations faced securing long-term, affordable office rental and co-working spaces.
‘‘With ever-increasing rents and lack of suitable space, groups like Happiness House, Plunket and Queenstown Lakes Family Centre urgently need to find operational space that’s both permanent and suitable,’’ he says.
The trust’s modelling its concept on the successful Kollective, in Tauranga, and the Lofts, in Christchurch, and while it’s been a long time coming, that’s enabled the trust to research what’s needed in the resort.
‘‘We are confident that with the input of the Queenstown community and social organisations, we can create something unique and right for our community.’’
The trust worked to secure property, and after the council identified excess land it owns, behind Countdown at Five Mile and adjoining the Queenstown Events Centre, it submitted an expression of interest (EOI), which got an initial thumbs-up from councillors.
That’s now out for public feedback, closing this Sunday.
The trust’s seeking a lease over about 1.18 hectare for one day shy of 35 years, for $1 per annum.
Its EOI says they plan to initially build three 900 square metre two-storey buildings, expected to cost about $16.2 million.
Should the lease be granted, the trust will seek funding to cover the build cost, so users will only pay for running costs.
Once those buildings reach capacity — expected within the first five to 10 years — a fourth is planned, adding a further 900sq m.
Along with Happiness House, Plunket and Queenstown Lakes Family Centre, other proposed anchor tenants are Well South, Citizens Advice, Wakatipu Community Foundation and Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust.
MacDonald’s encouraging people to have their say on the proposal via the ‘Lets Talk’ section of the council’s website before feedback closes on Sunday.
A council decision on the draft lease is expected early next month.
