Over several years, our group have been developing a proposal aimed at improving various aspects of our community.
The Proposed Project
The project is the design and construction of a large multi-service extension of an existing social service provider building.
The extension is to be built over the top of a public carpark in the Waihi CBD and is to provide office and work space for 12 social, health and education agencies. Construction commencement is expected mid 2009.
The Need
The need for this 'Village' of services has been established over the previous 4 years through extensive community and agency consultation, together with government driven local services mapping.
Better pooling of resources and collaboration between agencies and community will provide more opportunity to develop a 'Village' approach to encouraging people to reach their positive potential.
Background
District wide community consultation was carried out as part of Hauraki District Council's LTCCP Community Outcomes process. Agency and local Maori consultation has been ongoing through the work of the Waihi Social Development Group, formed in response to the Waihi Community Vision – a community consultation group looking to maximise on opportunities post open pit gold mining in Waihi. Local services mapping was undertaken by FACS (Family and Community Services – part of the Ministry of Social Development).
Objectives
The development of a centralised multi-service facility meets the recognised and accepted objectives for collaboration as reinforced by Ministry of Social Development's new Pathway to Partnership statement to – "support organisations to work more closely together to reduce duplication and get more resources in to services".
Waihi Social Development Group includes service categories around early intervention, prevention and response to family abuse and neglect, family support services, sexual abuse services, services for youth at risk, services for youth offenders, prevention and response to family violence.
Waihi Social Development Group members (from 17 Government, NGO and Community) have been engaged in the project for two years. Much work has been completed to establish shared vision and values that will maximise the opportunity for inclusive collaboration to be achieved.
Added Value
Chosen building site location and design meets community, economic and environmental sustainability criteria. Social sustainability is also achieved via workplace design and on-site gym in order to model staff social connectedness and healthy living. Pukewa Village provides a one-stop-shop for anyone to access social, health, education and justice advice, support and services.
Stakeholder Contributions/Investments
The project requires significant capital development fundraising in order to meet it's objective of being 'community owned'. The Group will be looking to the main stakeholders as well as Central Government. However there will also be opportunity for Community Buy In to the project for local people and businesses through contribution of services, resources and voluntary labour.
If you would like to register your support for the building project - due to start mid 2009 - please contact the co-ordinator at the address below.
Together we can make a difference ...
Contact:
Tessa MacKenzie
Co-Ordinator
P: 07 863 8755 or 027 232 9940
E: waihisocdev@paradise.net.nz