Te Piki Oranga is about to begin renovations for a new health hub to open from the former Otumarama rest home and hospital on Nayland Rd, Stoke. Fliers were delivered to mailboxes in the close vicinity of the property late last month, to introduce Te Piki Oranga as the new owners of the site.
The Māori healthcare provider has resource consent for a healthcare hub to open there by November. Tumuaki (general manager) Anne Hobby says that she is delighted to bring new life and purpose to the site and that she anticipates the community will also appreciate seeing the vacant premises improved and in use again.
Over the next six months contractors will undertake earthworks and construction, to provide more car parking onsite as per resource consent conditions.
To support safety during the works, the front gate will be closed and a gate at the Chisnall St exit will be installed.
Traffic flow management has been agreed with Nelson City Council as part of the resource consent process, to avoid adding to congestion during peak traffic hours in the area. This includes making primary access to the site from Nayland Rd, limiting vehicle exit onto Chisnall St to standard daytime operating hours, and keeping fleet cars onsite overnight, rather than brought onsite each morning.
Kaimahi (staff) will also be encouraged to travel to work by bike and by walking, where feasible, to make the most of the Railway Reserve access. Site improvement began in May with a mahi tahi (working together) gardening day for kaimahi.
Anne described the day as an opportunity to build kotahitanga (togetherness) among kaimahi who will relocate to the new health hub.
Standard roses and other plants were moved to other parts of the grounds. Climbing ivy was pulled back from the long-vacant buildings and overgrown gardens were pruned. The new health hub – name to be announced at a later date – will allow services to be consolidated and provided from one place, rather than the current three different leased locations in Whakatū / Nelson and Waimea.
/ Richmond.
Anne says that this will enable cost-efficiencies, through reduced utilities bills, transport and venue hire for example.
