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The need for funding among cash strapped community organisations came into focus when the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board allocated its latest round of community grants at this month’s meeting.
More than three times the available funding was requested and while some applications were turned down because they did not meet the criteria, several had to be rejected because the grants were so heavily oversubscribed. The Hibiscus Coast Anglican Parish’s application for $50,000 towards rebuilding St Chad’s Hall in Ōrewa, was one of those turned down due to being “a low priority for funding” and the fund being oversubscribed, as was Whangaparāoa Playcentre which was looking for $12,490 towards laying a concrete bike track.
Who got what?
Some of the biggest amounts were allocated in the Facilities grants. Local organisations to benefit included: Coastguard Hibiscus $30,000 towards refitting headquarters; Silverdale Squash Club $15,000 towards key access control system; Ōrewa Surf Lifesaving Club $20,000 towards project management; and Netball North Harbour $30,000 towards replacing lights (see box).
Two local community patrol groups got money to put towards installing street security cameras (HM May 30) – Hibiscus Coast Community Patrol got $10,000 and Whangaparāoa Community Patrol, $2500.
Sizeable grants also went to: Silverdale and Districts Historical Society towards re-piling and repair work of two of its historic buildings, $10,000; Hibiscus Coast Grandparents Parenting Grandchildren got $6000 to sponsor families attending events; Manly Park Seniors Tennis Club, $7026 towards outdoor carpet replacement and YMCA North $25,000 towards a feasibility study for a Shakespear Lodge upgrade to 130 beds.
Among those receiving smaller grants were: Youth in Transition Charitable Trust, $2000; No. 5 (Rodney District) Aquadron Air Training Corps, $1000; The Upside Downs Education Trust $1000; Friends of Okura Bush $1000; Rodney Neighbourhood Support, $2138; Coast Community Trust $2000; Coast Youth Community Trust $2000; Hibiscus Coast Youth Council Incorporated, $2000; Pacific Integrated Foundation Trust, $3000; Hestia Rodney Women’s Refuge $3000; Feeling Fab Charitable Trust $1000; Centrestage Theatre $1000; Estuary Arts Centre $3000; and Hibiscus Coast Softball Club $2000.
Netball makes the best of poor lighting: Netballers at Hibiscus Coast Netball in Edith Hopper Reserve, Manly, are working around poor lighting this season, according to Netball North Harbour chief executive Lynette Brady. The centre had two of its four lighting poles removed by Auckland Council, when they became unstable after a storm last year (HM September 1, 2021). The centre, which had been trying to find $15,000 for repairs to its lights before the two sets were removed, recently had a quote for replacement of the additional two light poles, lights and fittings of around $80,000. In the meantime, an increase in young netballers has exacerbated the problem. Lynette says the centre starts games a little earlier and added another round each night, as well as shifting games to courts that are lit better than others. The centre applied to Council for $50,000 to improve its lighting and received $30,000. Lynette says it’s a start, however they are unable to start any work as the funding only covers work which starts after the approval date, not retrospective projects. She will meet contractors on site to discuss the options, which may include setting up new lights on the two remaining poles. She says the existing light fittings are antiquated and the bulbs are inefficient and expensive. “I’ve also asked Council what happened to our two poles and the lights on them – in case some of it can be reused rather than trashed,” Lynette says.
