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At a time when community organisations are finding it tough, decisions regarding local board grants became even more critical.
At its meeting held by Skype on May 21, members of the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board discussed at length the various grant applications put before them.
Several groups were given significantly less than they had asked for, and a number of the decisions were not unanimous. At the meeting it was pointed out that most of the grants were applied for before the Covid-19 lockdown and since then, priorities have changed.
The application by the Hibiscus Coat Family Centre Trust for $45,000 towards a concept design for a community centre was hotly debated. In the end, the group was offered $30,000 on the condition that it confirm that it is intending to develop the site already set aside for the centre, in Link Crescent, Whangaparaoa.
“Unless we have a guarantee that they will put their building in Link Crescent, we are going around in circles and wasting more and more money,” member Julia Parfitt said.
Here are some of the local allocations for Facilities and Local grants: Hibiscus Men’s Shed Trust, $50,000 towards laying its concrete slab and $2472 towards a sander. • Silverdale United Rugby Football Club, $10,000 towards external stairwell upgrade. • Metropark Community Sports Charitable Trust, $20,000 • Hibiscus Hockey Trust $8000 towards three water tanks • Hibiscus Coast Community Arts Council towards arts awards, $5000 • Red Beach Surf Lifesaving $8000 for First Aid courses • Age Concern Rodney $2000 towards a support programme for older people affected by the Covid-19 pandemic (things like groceries and doctor’s visits). • Hibiscus Coast Youth Council $10,000 towards management, admin, training, counselling and youth leader wages. • Silverdale Area Business Association $6000 towards a new website, branding and database management. • Business Whangaparaoa, $6000 for management costs, buy local campaign, networks and promotion. • Youth in Transition, $5000 for group facilitation and counselling. • Future Whangaparaoa Trust, $5000 towards running a multicultural festival.
