Trusts given help to own buildings

Two community trusts have been given buildings by the Christchurch City Council, and another organisation has been granted a $750,000 loan.

Community healthcare centre Piki Te Ora was granted the $750,000 loan at a council meeting yesterday. The money would be used to help the group buy the building they are renting at 201 Linwood Ave.

Piki Te Ora is a registered low-cost health provider, offering nurse visits for $5 and doctor visits for $19.50. It has already raised $975,000 after selling another property it owned in Cashel St and receiving a $250,000 grant from the Rata Foundation.

Piki Te Ora board chairwoman Ngaire Button said the council loan meant the organisation could achieve its goal of owning its own building, which would secure the trust’s future financially.

It would be able to deliver more healthcare to its community because of the money saved on lease payments or paying higher rates of interest, Button said.

The trust would have 10 years to repay the loan, at an interest rate of 4.5%, which covered the cost of the council’s borrowing.

The council also decided to give the Hornby Library building in Goulding Ave to the Hornby Community Care Trust once the new Hornby library, customer services and pool, Matatiki, opens late next year.

The Shirley Community Trust is also being given the MacFarlane Park Centre in Acheson Ave.

Council community support and partnerships head John Filsell said both buildings were surplus to the council’s requirements.

Both trusts would take on full responsibility for the buildings. If either trust no longer required the buildings, the council would have the option of taking back ownership for $1.