Eco-centre closer to reality
An eco-centre designed to teach South Cantabrians about sustainable living is $150,000 closer to reality.
The Mid and South Canterbury Community Trust has granted $150,000 to the Sustainable South Canterbury Trust for phase two of building the major eco-centre at Redruth, covering more than 20 per cent of the $700,000 second step.
‘‘It’s been really encouraging that we’ve been offered this grant,’’ trustee Rhys Taylor said.
The weather-tight structure where the centre will be housed was built for about $280,000 in ‘‘phase one’’ and sits alongside the trust’s Crow’s Nest reuse shop.
The next phase will involve fitting out the space, filling it with a mini-kitchen, display space, and store, installing electrics, plumbing, insulation, double-glazed windows, and linings.
Meanwhile, in the outside space a garden, stormwater storage, swales, roads, and footway ramp access will be established.
The centre is expected to be complete next year at a cost of $1.1m.
Taylor said Redruth was an ideal place for the centre because it was a working site which was ‘‘a bit odorous’’; was near a rising sea, Saltwater Creek, and a vast eco-system; while also being close to town.
‘‘This is about environmental learning where we live. We can’t just go into the countryside if we want to engage with the urban community,’’ Taylor said. ‘‘The site itself is beautiful.’’ People would learn about how to reduce their waste going to landfill, efficient rain water use, sustainable products they can purchase from South Canterbury suppliers, and reduce carbon emissions.
‘‘In big picture terms, the project is important because it’s about the direction we need to change in to live within the limits of the planet,’’ Taylor said.
‘‘We need to learn these skills so an education centre is a project that’s going to help us.’’
The centre would also offer sustainability education to schools, and space for businesses to host training events or display examples of their innovations to the public.
‘‘It will have a regional significance as our part of a national network of environmental education centres linked through Environment Hubs Aotearoa, which is supported by the Ministry for Environment,’’ Taylor said.
‘‘Yet our timing . . . could mean that South Canterbury ends up ahead of other districts, with a demonstrable commitment to seeking sustainability.
‘‘We foresee that the eco-centre will become part of how the council promotes Timaru District to
‘‘In big picture terms, the project is important because it’s about the direction we need to change in to live within the limits of the planet.’’ Rhys Taylor
Sustainable South Canterbury Trust
the community,’’ Taylor said.
The trust has put the project forward for funding from the Timaru District Council’s new $2m stimulus fund, to the tune of $150,000.
‘‘We’re asking for the community to invest in it,’’ Taylor said.
‘‘I think the creation of the new fund is timely, because it shows they’re looking at rebuilding confidence in the community. That’s why we wanted to speak up and say we want to make a difference.’’
The trust would also be looking at applying for a lotteries grant, and exploring other avenues.
Appealing to corporate entities for help may be off the table because of Covid-19, Taylor said.
A ‘‘friends of’’ group of volunteers was also on the cards.
The project was ready to go with designs and consents in place and a builder engaged, funding being the final obstacle.
‘‘Once we receive the key to turn the lock, the eco-centre will mainly be selffinancing. The opportunity is there to charge users and receive small grants, so we have ways of running the operation as tight as possible.’’
The neighbouring reuse shop had seen an increase in trade and while it was not making a profit, it was ‘‘paying its way’’, Taylor said.