New learning centre opens
A Horowhenua tertiary education provider should be able to provide double its teaching capacity at its new site.
The Horowhenua Learning Centre is opening its new premises next Wednesday on the site of the old Levin hospital on Liverpool St. The centre has been in its Bath St premises for the past 20 years and it was at full capacity.
The new site has been refitted and will house the learning centre, health provider Youth One Stop Shop, and youth support service Life to The Max.
The centre’s chief executive Patrick Rennell said the new site would double its footprint and would allow an increase in students from about 150 to 300-400. ‘‘A lot of the students we work with come from families that a 45-minute trip to Palmerston North isn’t really an option [for]. Now we have an opportunity with a really nice space for vocational training here in Levin.’’
He said the strength of the centre was getting people into employment.
The hospital, built in the 1970s, was derelict before work began, but has been refurbished into a multi-purpose learning space. ‘‘We want our students to have that sense of belonging in Levin.’’
The new site has a modern library with Chromebooks, a cafe, multiple classrooms, outdoor areas, a training kitchen, a teaching workshop, a cultural room and shared spaces.
A psychologist, a doctor and nurse would be on site, Rennell said.
There is the provision for the building to also host English language providers.
This year the centre has added a trades programme, which has 16 students and, with the expansion, the centre could offer more courses in the future. ‘‘What we’re excited about is ... the value of a community education space like this in Horowhenua, that has ended up being a partnership of a whole lot of different groups all working together.’’
Horowhenua District councillor and property developer Wayne Bishop owns the site, but is leasing it to the centre.
Bishop covered the cost of refurbishing the building and the learning centre paid for the commercial kitchen, IT infrastructure and furniture.
Rennell said the centre spent almost $1 million.