What is The Colville Project?
The Colville Project (TCP) (originally The Colville Community Facilities Project), is focused on the communities of the far Northern Coromandel Peninsula and was formed in response to community need in 2016, by founding partners Colville Community Health Trust (CCHT) and Colville Social Service Collective (CSSC).
VISION: The Northern Coromandel Peninsula is a thriving place to live, work and play across your lifespan.
PURPOSE: Ensure the ongoing wellbeing of the Northern Coromandel Peninsula community to support a strong circular economy.
Our 2017 Feasibility Study (completed by Momentum Waikato), confirmed The Colville Project as a feasible solution to our communities' identified demographic and isolation needs.
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The project has four proposed stages:
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A combined Wellbeing and Education Centre
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A range of housing and accommodation options for the elderly, those needing supported living/care; and families wanting to live and work in the area
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Accommodation for visiting professionals and students
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Youth recreational facilities and skills training
Community consultation has formed a core element of the project’s ongoing development and design from the project’s conception, and has always had a high rate of engagement. Initial consultation, indicated how increasing centralisation of services have negatively impacted on our small rural communities, and demonstrated strong community support for the project. Further consultation, has established our communities see the building of the proposed Wellbeing and Education Centre as the preferred first stage of the project.
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The Wellbeing and Education Centre will support the provision of health and social services in our area by addressing the inadequacy and limitation of current premises. The centre will provide fit-for-purpose facilities for existing services such as the Colville Community Health Centre (medical clinic, rural nursing, and St John Prime); and the Colville Social Service Collective (services and programmes for community, youth and older persons, and a number of community development initiatives). It will also allow for the expansion of services including providing opportunities for other services and enabling opportunities for collaboration.
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To date our remote rural communities have raised $516,148, 1 which is comprised of: $205,877 in a building fund, held by TCPT for the Wellbeing and Education Centre, and $310,271 held by TCP for land purchase.
Why do we need The Colville Project?
We want to live in our rural paradise with access to a wide range of medical, social, education and training services and resources, but our residents face challenges...
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Our rural, isolated communities are increasingly impacted by centralisation of essential health, wellbeing and educational services.
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Our current clinic and local resources cannot continue to support the increasing needs of our residents and visitors as the current premises are leased and cannot be upgraded.
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Our population is ageing and is forecast to increase with an older demographic as bach owners retire to the upper Northern Coromandel Peninsula.
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The Project wants to ensure that we provide residents and visitors with :
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An improved Wellbeing and Education Centre which will provide local access to health, and wellbeing services, and include a new training/learning space for medical students who want to become rural GPs
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Accommodation for visiting professionals and students
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Housing options for the elderly and families wanting to live and work in the area
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Youth recreational facilities and skills training
This will support our community in its long term sustainability
