Stricken lodge needs support from public
Southland’s Borland Lodge is asking for funds to stay operating but those involved say the lodge isn’t in dire straits yet.
Borland Lodge Adventure and Education Trust chair John McHugh said Covid-19 restrictions had taken out all of the lodge’s school bookings during March, last month and the start of this month.
The trust set up a Givealittle page about a week ago with a target of $50,000 and yesterday donations totalled $6675. Alert level 2 meant some hunters and fishers may be back at the camp, McHugh said.
The camp, about four kilometres north of Lake Monowai, hosts school camps, weddings, family holidays, hunting trips and even the military from time to time.
McHugh said school camps and other bookings were still on the books for October this year to May next year, but the winter months were quieter.
‘‘School principals have been very supportive and told us they don’t want to lose the camp,’’ he said.
Southland Secondary Principals’ Association president and Verdon College principal Jarlath Kelly said there were no plans to bring camps forward.
However, the association had begun discussions to look at it could help Borland deliver school camps, Kelly said.
‘‘All Southland schools saw Borland as a rite of passage,’’ he said.
McHugh said the trust was having weekly video meetings, and he was taking daily phone calls about the lodge.
The biggest overhead cost was insurance and by virtue of being in a national park and close to forest, rodents became an issue when there were not people there, he said.
‘‘As we are not for profit, the long-term prospects of the lodge are in danger.
‘‘Without extra funds to carry us through to a time where guests can return, we face the very real prospect of having to close permanently,’’ McHugh said.
‘‘People have been telling us they don’t want to lose the place.’’
Southland District Council mayor Gary Tong managed the camp in the early 2000s.
‘‘If our nation loses these facilities we have to ask where our future generations will get the education outside the classroom experience.’’