There has been some exciting news for the Tapawera community as the Tasman District Council has officially confirmed funding for a new purpose-built community hub.
Over the past three years, engagement and feasibility studies were conducted, revealing that over 80 per cent of the Tapawera community supports the need for such a facility.
The feasibility study involved extensive meetings with community and key stakeholders and confirmed that Tapawera indeed requires a new, fit-for-purpose community building.
Of the feasibility study’s 130 respondents, 114 were in support of the project, with 42 per cent listing it as a high priority.
“A purpose-built community hub will benefit Tapawera and the surrounding valleys by bringing essential services closer to the local community," says Phoebe Quinlivan from Tapawera Connect Trust, who has spearheaded the project.
“The focus will be on health and wellness services, including support for cancer patients, midwifery services, nutrition, and more. Additionally, it will serve as a central venue for workshops and meetings and will be a central bumping space for connection and information sharing.”
Tasman District Council, included $2.68 million for the project through its Long-Term Plan, including the community fundraising element of $900,000 thats required.
The community needs to raise just $390k more to kick the project off after securing $510,000 from Department of Internal Affairs.
The proposed building will feature a large meeting room, several smaller meeting rooms, a designated area for the Tapawera Community Op Shop, and a communal foyer.
“We are very excited about the opportunities this new hub will present for our community, a new chapter to continue to bring together our community for positive well-being outcomes,” Phoebe adds.
Tapawera Rugby Club president Tony Firth says the club won’t see much affect from the new facility but wishes the project good luck.
“We’ve got our own renovations going on at the moment to update some of our facilities.”
Community engagement and the feasibility study for the new hub have highlighted several positive outcomes, including improved access to local services, reduced travel requirements, enhanced opportunities for social connection, and a centralised platform for sharing information about community activities and resources.
Specifics regarding the hub's location and expected timeline for commencement or completion are yet to be finalised.
