A new state of the art ‘ambulance hub’ is closer to fruition with a $1.65m grant from Central Lakes Trust.

Based on St John’s successful hub and spoke model in Christchurch, the Central Lakes hub will allow better management flexibility of the 19 ambulance and operational vehicles based in seven stations across the region, says Trust Chair, Linda Robertson.

“This innovative new facility will see the entire region benefit from an improved operating model,” she said.

Debbie Pipson, Fundraising and Marketing Manager for St John, South Island Region, says the extremely generous grant from Central Lakes Trust means that construction of the new 574sq m ambulance hub will be able to commence later this year.

Debbie says the St John Cromwell Area committee was working closely with the local community and organisations and businesses to help raise the additional funds needed to build an ambulance hub that will service Cromwell and the surrounding district into the future.

“The demand for ambulance services continues to increase throughout New Zealand, but it is increasing in the Central Lakes district with the rapid population growth and rising tourist numbers,” she says.

The decision to base the hub in Cromwell was influenced by heat map analysis of call-outs across the region, and a geotech report on ground stability in the case of a significant earthquake.

Trust Chief Executive, Susan Finlay says, "there is a high probability of a major earthquake in our lifetimes. St John’s hub and spoke plan with the addition of the new facility will be an excellent resource for the region’s needs”.

Strategically located in a central location and built on stable ground, the hub can be readily converted to a post-event response location, with space to run operations and act as community gathering space.

Debbie says the facility will be built to the highest category for a building’s seismic resilience, designed to withstand AF8 and continue to function operationally with minimal interruption to emergency ambulance services.

“This building will help our staff in Cromwell, and the region, continue serving the local community and doing the amazing life-saving work they do every day," Debbie says.

Susan says St John’s provide a crucial and highly valued service for the community. “Even with government funding, they need to raise $85,000 a day to keep the service going nationwide.”

“It’s imperative, as a community we support these vital emergency response services,” she says.

Others to receive funding in this round include Hospice Southland and Otago Community Hospice Trust for contributing towards operational costs to ensure the delivery of palliative care throughout the Central Lakes region.

“We are proud to continue to support many social service agencies with operating costs, ensuring these vital services continue to be available within our region,” Susan says.

The Central Otago Pilot Programme for the Youth Employment Project continues to receive support. The programme’s aim is to develop a coordinated learning pathway to ensure continued engagement of secondary school students in education and/or training and employment.

GRANTS APPROVED – MAY 2019

Project grants

Parenting Place Attitude Programmes for Lifeskills $1,912

Queenstown Primary School Sunshades for Playground $2,500

Shotover Primary School Hall AV System $15,925
St John Cromwell Ambulance Hub $1,650,000

Operational / Programme grants

Alexandra Senior Citizens Centre Inc Operational Grant 2019/20 $12,000
Anglican Family Care Centre Inc Operational Grant 2019/20 $20,000
Birthright Central Otago Operational Grant 2019/20 $5,500

Community Law Otago Operational Grant 2019/20 $21,000

Cromwell Presbyterian Church Children & Families Programme/ Light Party $17,000

Hospice Southland Operational Grant 2019/20 $25,000

Otago Community Hospice Trust Operational Grant 2019/20 $69,621

Presbyterian Support Otago Operational Grant 2019/20 $65,000

Prime Timers Operational Grant 2019/20 $10,000

Sport Otago Operational Grant 2019/20 $45,000

Youth Employment Project Programme Grant 2019/20 $31,104

CLT Initiatives

CLT Scholarships 2019 for 2020 CLT Tertiary Scholarships $125,000

Alexandra Community Arts Council CLASS - Alexandra $26,054

Creative Queenstown CLASS - Wakatipu $48,858

Cromwell Community Arts CLASS - Cromwell $15,394

Upper Clutha Community Arts Council CLASS – Upper Clutha $23,194

TOTAL: $2,230,062

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