Busy times for community project

MILTON’S Project Bruce is gearing up into action this spring.

The Governmentfunded community development project, established by the Milton Community Health Trust last year, recently concluded an extensive phase of public consultation to discover how its three core settlements of Milton, Waihola and Taieri Mouth want to see their communities evolve.

Now starting its second year of activity, Project Bruce has had a change of staff to help some of its resulting communityled projects move forward.

Helming the group is new community development worker Kim Schiller, of Milton, who will be working with new sustainability projects coordinator Catherine Paul, of Waihola.

The pair were ‘‘excited and enthusiastic’’ about the potential for social and community growth in the district.

‘‘[Former project leader] Lucy Hardy has done an amazing job over the past year, of bringing community groups and residents closer together, and facilitating conversations about what local people want to see happening next,’’ Mrs Schiller said.

‘‘Now it’s our job almost to act as midwives, helping people give birth to those projects and nurture them along until they can be selfsustaining.’’

Both women had experience working in community projects, and said they were eager to ‘‘get things moving’’, having started in their new roles just last week.

Mrs Paul said she would be focusing on ecofriendly initiatives — an area of emphasis during consultation.

‘‘My role is a new one, driven by residents’ demand for sustainable initiatives locally. Besides supporting existing projects like community gardens, and skillsharing workshops, we’ll be looking at areas like community green waste disposal and sustainable parenting. It’s something I’m passionate about, and want to share with others.’’

Mrs Schiller said she had a long list of potential projects, which she would first work to prioritise according to community demand.

However, she believed whatever emerged could expect strong community support.

‘‘We’ve got a big year ahead, but we’re ready.’’

PHOTO: RICHARD DAVISON Next steps . . . New Project Bruce community development worker Kim Schiller (left), and sustainability projects coordinator Catherine Paul, are looking forward to facilitating several community projects in the Milton area, identified during the group’s consultation phase.