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.”