The Vincent Community Board (VCB) took the show on the road on Tuesday (3 December 2024) and met at Omakau Rugby Club rooms in the Omakau Domain for the monthly meeting, instead of the Council chambers in Alexandra.
The VCB was updated on progress on the Manuherekia Valley Community Hub, also known as the Omakau Community Hub, to be built within the domain.
Read more: Omakau Community Hub progressing
All going according to plan in the fundraising strategy, the Manuherekia Valleys Charitable Trust will have the $5.2 million needed to start building the hub at the end of 2025.
However, the trust will ask the Central Otago District Council (CODC) to cover a possible $1.6 million shortfall in the 2025-34 draft Long-term Plan (LTP), should all the external fundraising avenues not eventuate in time. The VCB approved the additional support at Tuesday’s meeting.
The VCB also talked about the importance of the community’s outdoor community places and were updated on the Council’s Open Spaces and Recreation Strategy 2024. This public consultation closes this Monday 9 December for the community to give their feedback on the future of how our parks and reserves are used.
Read more: Open Spaces and Recreation Strategy
Afterwards, some members, and Council Community Experience staff took the opportunity to tour the rest of the Omakau Recreation Reserve above the Omakau Golf Club to see the progress on a walking track that will loop around the reserve. Development of the track was allowed for in the Omakau Reserve Management Plan which was adopted last November.
In the group photo, the Thomsons Catchment Project wetland and the Otago Central Rail Trail can be seen in the background.
Read more: Here
Pictured (from left), Parks and Recreation Officer Maria Burnett, Cr Lynley Claridge (sworn in as a VCB member, following a reshuffle), the newly-elected VCB Chair Jayden Cromb, Cr Tracy Paterson, Tony Hammington, Group Manager Community Experience David Scoones, and in front Dr Roger Browne and Martin McPherson.
Other photos: Communications Officer Mary-Jo Tohill; Ms Burnett and Parks and Recreation Manager Gordon Bailey (pictured at the start of the track at the domain end).
Recordings of all meetings can be found at: Meeting and Workshop Recordings - Central Otago District Council
