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From roof replacements to clubroom expansions, local community groups, sports clubs, environmental initiatives and shared spaces are set to benefit from the latest round of Hibiscus and Bays Local Board grants.
This funding round focused heavily on supporting ageing facilities and expanding community spaces to meet growing demand.
Silverdale United Rugby and Sports Club received $20,000 towards the installation of new heat pumps, while Hibiscus Coast Raiders Rugby League and Sports Club also received $37,370 towards a deck extension and roof construction project.
Ōrewa Sea Scouts received $50,000 towards ceiling and roof repairs for its clubhouse on Ōrewa waterfront, as the club continues fundraising to restore the 66-year-old building affectionately known as “the ship”.
Club chair Donna King said she hoped the grant was only the beginning of a wider programme of improvements for the well-loved facility. Life jackets, boat maintenance, camping gear, gutter cleaning, graffiti removal, outside floors, security cameras and larger clubhouse doors for boat transportation all need ongoing maintenance, she said.
“We’ve done a few working bees and painted the hall and kitchen, but it’s so well used that it needs some love,” she said.
However, even with the grant and the group’s own fundraising efforts, the Sea Scouts remain short of the total cost of the roof repairs and will continue their fundraising efforts.
Ōrewa Surf Life Saving Club received $12,450 towards the Ōrewa Surf Life Saving Club Community Hub, which is planned to begin construction later this year.
The upgraded facility will include a new lifeguard tower, medical and first aid facilities on the beach, accommodation and changing facilities for patrol members, and additional storage for equipment, rescue boats and vehicles.
Many organisations also secured support to help meet growing community demand.
The Hibiscus Coast Youth Hub received $30,000 towards bathroom renovations, helping further its mission of providing a safe and welcoming space for young people.
Hibiscus Coast Youth Hub board member Ross Morley said that while further fundraising is still needed, the grant will allow significant improvements to the hub’s “subpar” bathroom facilities.
“This money is very much appreciated and will be spent wisely. Thanks to the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board for its support,” he said.
The renovations will upgrade toilets, basins, tapware and tiling, while also refurbishing the showers and installing a new hot water system.
The Rodney Aphasia Group received $3000 to help cover catering, venue costs, speech therapy and drumming instructors as part of its ongoing support programmes.
Hibiscus Men’s Shed received $5000 for a CNC router, a computer-controlled machine used to shape and cut wood and metal with precision.
Members of the Men’s Shed have completed numerous projects throughout the community, and chair Geoff Leigh said the new equipment would expand what the group can achieve.
Leigh said the machine would not only benefit the club’s own projects but also provide valuable learning opportunities for secondary school students who regularly visit the shed.
“Given that we have engaged with some secondary schools on the Hibiscus Coast, we will have the ability to expose senior learners to the types of modern machinery they will encounter in the workforce when they leave school. This is especially pertinent to learners who have no interest in going to university and want to get into the trades immediately.”
Leigh said the club was excited about the opportunities the new equipment would create and the projects it would make possible.
A full list of grants awarded is available from the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board.
