Whakatipu Community Hub Charitable Trust

Architects Designs

2/11/2023

Since securing the land, the Trust have been working with Award winning Architects Wingates who designed the Kollective in Tauranga.

After two stakeholder engagement sessions in April and May 2023, the results and conceptual designs were revealed to those involved on 2nd Nov 2023.

A copy of the presentation can be downloaded from the link below

wingates_whakatipu_community_hub_231102_presentation.pdf
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Lease approved

30/3/2023

Press release from Whakatipu Community Hub Charitable Trust
29th March 2023

Huge Leap forward for Urgently Needed Facility

Queenstown Lakes District Councillors have unanimously approved a lease that will enable the construction of the long planned Whakatipu Community Hub. This is a major step forward for the social agencies of the area and their clients, all of whom need a secure place to operate within. The Whakatipu Charitable Trust (WCHCT) envisages a warm and welcoming environment with co-working spaces that bring agencies and clients together under one roof. The council land is located in the five mile area, behind Countdown and adjacent to the Events Centre grounds.

Whakatipu Trust Chair John MacDonald said the Trust was delighted to have secured the lease of this land after several years of searching.
“The planned hub promises a secure community asset where many organisations and individuals can work and meet in one excellent location,” said Mr MacDonald.
“We needed somewhere with good bus routes and close to the facilities that locals use. The Trust had identified Frankton Flats as our preferred location.“

“This lease allows us to get on with our planning, and to design, consent and construct the hub. It’s slowly coming together at a time when the need for such a space is greater than ever and continues to grow. Covid and recent floods up north showed us the importance of a community place where people can go for support and help.”

“We are grateful to QLDC and those who have demonstrated to the Council the need for such a facility. We are also grateful for the groundswell of support that has us this far and that we will continue to rely on as we work to deliver this vision."

A number of community and stakeholder workshops are planned, starting next month.

Project Administrator Sharon Salmons says the workshops will be vitally important. “We need to design and create a facility that meets the needs of the social groups looking to use the hub. We are also looking to future proof the project so we need to understand future needs as well as current. We are also committed to delivering a facility that is sustainably efficient and functional.”

The Trust is investigating funding options and are interested in hearing from anyone who is keen to help with fundraising. It also encourages anyone interested as a potential agency user of the facilities to get in touch.
ENDS

Further information about the Trust is available on the Website www.whakatipuhub.org.nz
Contacts:
Trust Chair - John MacDonald 027 435 6092
Project Administrator – Sharon Salmons 021 942 328

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Feedback time

11/1/2023

Press release from Whakatipu Community Hub Charitable Trust
10th Jan 2023

Feedback and Support Required for Urgently Needed Facility

The Whakatipu Community Hub Charitable Trust (WCHCT) seeks public support for a project that has been nearly 4 years in the making. Better known as the “Whakatipu Hub” the WCHCT was set up in 2019 with a key objective to provide sustainable, affordable, and well-maintained meeting rooms and offices for the charity, social and community groups which support our community.

Chair John MacDonald explained “We are looking at creating shared office space and social facilities like the very successful ‘Kollective’ in Tauranga and ‘the Lofts’ in Christchurch. Although it’s been a long time in the making, this time has allowed us to thoroughly research what is needed. 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 project began when both QLDC and the Trust identified the real difficulties faced by community organisations in 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.”

The Whakatipu Hub has worked hard to secure property and last year QLDC identified excess council land behind the Countdown supermarket in the Frankton Flats area. The Whakatipu Hub (WCHCT) submitted an Expression of Interest which got the initial thumbs up from Councillors.

MacDonald explained the importance of people expressing support. “QLDC has a public process to follow which involves community feedback. This closes on Friday 13th Jan on the QLDC “Let’s Talk” website - https://letstalk.qldc.govt.nz/notice-of-intention-lease-project. Once this concludes, a council decision on a draft lease is expected early next month. People can easily express their view here and we encourage people to show support for these facilities.”

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Support needed

22/12/2022

COPY OF THE QLDC PRESS RELEASE

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) is asking for community feedback on a proposed lease of land at the north-eastern edge of the Queenstown Events Centre to the Whakatipu Community Hub Charitable Trust (WCHCT).

If granted a lease, the Trust aims to use the approximately 1.18ha of land to provide a community facility, offering affordable office rental and co-working spaces, to be used by organisations in the Queenstown Lakes District.

QLDC Property Director, Quintin Howard said Council identified excess land within its Queenstown Events Centre masterplan, for which the WCHCT had submitted an expression of interest.
“We understand the Trust has identified a real difficulty faced by community organisations in securing affordable and suitable long-term office rental and co-working spaces,” said Mr Howard.
“Their proposal aims to provide a modern facility where a range of different agencies and charities can collaborate, and they’ll use this space to meet with and support those in need.”

The activity of the proposed ground lease includes offices, meeting rooms, and community events, as permitted under QLDC’s Operative District Plan.
The duration of the lease has been proposed at 34 years and 364 days from the commencement date, with annual ground rental set at $1.00 per annum plus GST and reviewed in accordance with QLDC’s Community Facility Funding Policy.

Mr Howard encouraged the community to read through what the Whakatipu Community Hub Charitable Trust intended to do with the land, and to let Council know if they thought those activities were appropriate for the site.

“Following public feedback, the potential ground lease will go before Full Council for a decision in March 2023,” said Mr Howard.

More information about the proposed ground lease and a feedback form are available at https://letstalk.qldc.govt.nz/notice-of-intention-lease-project until Sunday 15 January 2023.

The proposed lease area is part of Lot 2 DP 476309, part of Section 61 Block I Shotover SD and part of Section 62 Block I Shotover SD.

ENDS|KUA MUTU.
Media contact: communications@qldc.govt.nz or call 03 441 1802.

FURTHER INFORMATION | KĀ PĀROKO TĀPIRI:

Proposed lease area: https://letstalk.qldc.govt.nz/82349/widgets/391310/documents/247964
Expression of Interest: Whakatipu Community Hub: https://letstalk.qldc.govt.nz/82349/widgets/391310/documents/247889
Notice of Intention: Ground Lease of QEC Land: https://letstalk.qldc.govt.nz/notice-of-intention-lease-project

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Thumbs Up ...

24/11/2022

Press release from Whakatipu Community Hub Charitable Trust
24th Nov 2022

Process Begins for Urgently Needed Facility

The Whakatipu Community Hub Charitable Trust (WCHCT) presented its case to the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) last week and was delighted to receive a conditional thumbs up for the project.

QLDC had recently identified excess land within the Event Centre masterplan and the WCHCT submitted an Expression of Interest. Council has a public process to follow which will now be undertaken, but the Trust is heartened by recognition that such a facility is needed and that its proposal was favourably received.

At the presentation, Chair John MacDonald highlighted the needs of the social sector community for a purpose build environment where similar organisations could work together in a collective facility.

“Both QLDC and the Trust have identified the real difficulties faced by community organisations in 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.”

MacDonald explained to council that the success of a facility meant it had to be central, accessible, and future proofed for the growing community.

“We need a location with good bus routes and close to the facilities that locals use. The Trust had identified Frankton Flats as our 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.”

Jane Guy, Business Manager, Central Lakes Family Services, supported the bid and reiterated to the Council the urgent need for this community facility.

“We desperately need modern bespoke facilities. We are constantly having to help people in our community from cold offices with little or no meeting space. The hub will be an amazing asset to the community and the opportunity to collaborate with other agencies and charities in the same location. This will be invaluable for us.”

A council decision on a draft lease is expected early next year. In the meantime, the Trust continues its planning work which continues to include extensive research into community needs, looking at similar facilities elsewhere and investigating fundraising options.
ENDS

Further information about the Trust is available on the Website www.whakatipuhub.org.nz
Contacts:
Trust Chair - John MacDonald 027 435 6092
Project Administrator – Sharon Salmons 021 942 328

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New Trustee Heath Copland

11/11/2022

New Trustee Heath Copland

After stepping down from a successful term as a QLDC elected Councillor, Heath Copland was appointed to the board of Trustees for the Whakatipu Community Hub Charitable Trust in mid Nov 2022.
Copland is currently the treasurer for the Trust and brings good governance skills, an understanding of council and a successful financial background to the already experienced and heavyweight team.
Chair John MacDonald at the appointment welcomed Heath to the board and thanked him for his efforts already to date

Heath Copland joins, John MacDonald, Ron MacKersy, Darren Riwi, Alexa Forbes Raymond Key and Bill Moran

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Thumbs Up ...

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