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Matakana Hall has taken an important step towards becoming a community emergency hub, with new solar panels now up and running.
The project was made possible through a combination of a Foundation North grant, generous donations from the local community and a substantial discount from Matakana-based solar company Solarcraft.
The hall committee recently reached its fundraising target, with locals getting behind the project after recognising the value of having a reliable community facility available in an emergency.
Committee member Trish Allen said the response had been outstanding.
“We are hugely grateful to our locals, who could see the benefit to the community of the hall becoming an emergency hub, and who got behind our fundraising drive,” she said.
The solar panels were installed at the end of July and are now operational, providing the hall with a more resilient source of electricity.
The committee also thanked Solarcraft owner Tim Dudek and his team for helping make the project affordable.
Dudek said Solarcraft was pleased to support a project that would benefit the local community.
“It was great to be given the opportunity to support an initiative for the local community, my friends, family and customers,” he said.
The hall committee is now working with the Matakana Emergency Readiness Group (MERGE) to determine how the facility will operate during an emergency.
MERGE is developing a preparedness plan in partnership with Auckland Council.
The aim is to ensure the hall can provide a practical base for the community if a major event disrupts normal services or power supplies.
