South Brighton trust gets $320,000
A new community hub will soon be created in South Brighton, using $325,000 from Christchurch City Council.
An abandoned and earthquakedamaged Baptist church will be converted into a communityowned hub for South Brighton residents, who lost most of their local gathering places following the 2011 earthquakes.
The development, on the corner of Bridge St and Estuary Rd, would include a community hall, wellness centre, office spaces, cafe, community information centre, pop-up restaurants, a learning centre, and a performance venue.
Bridge South Brighton Trust chairwoman Jane Harrison told councillors earlier this month, the new community hub would bring life back into the area.
The intersection used to be the heart of South Brighton. It was where residents met for coffee, went to the pharmacy and the fish and chip shop, but all those places were demolished after the earthquakes, Harrison said.
‘‘You drive down there at the moment and there’s empty land and an abandoned church.’’
Harrison said the money would allow the trust to open the centre debt-free. The trust has assured the council it would not be asking for any further money because all future costs would be met. The building’s foundations were being repaired for free after the trust won a competition with SmartLift NZ.
A council report said the facility would be financially sustainable, with income coming from the cafe, permanent tenants and the hiring of the facility. The income would pay to operate the facility and to employ a part-time manager.
Some councillors were concerned other groups could miss out on funding through the capital endowment fund this financial year because just $303,000 would be left once the grant was made.
Mayor Lianne Dalziel said it was possible that more money could be made available through the fund this financial year.
Cr David East said the people behind the project were capable and totally committed and he believed it was going to have outstanding benefits for the wider eastern community.
‘‘The spirit that exists in this community is quite outstanding. Right from the time of the earthquakes it’s been a been a community that refused to lie down and die. It’s a community that has shaken itself by the bootlaces and just kept going.
Cr Glenn Livingstone said in terms of value for ratepayers money, the council could hardly get better than this project.
‘‘This really is about beginning the road back for an entire suburb.’’
The capital endowment fund was set up in 2001 using the council’s $75 million share of the proceeds from Orion’s sale of its investment in a gas company.