Big Step for Top End Peninsula Communities

By John Freer

Securing a 35-hectare site has residents of the Peninsula’s top end celebrating more than Christmas this year.

The land parcel is the catalyst for an ambitious proposed development which will provide the infrastructure for health, wellbeing and community facilities, impacting all communities within northern Coromandel Peninsula.

Having its beginnings five years ago, the Colville Project is a staged based concept commencing with constructing a $6 million health and wellbeing centre. Stage two will provide accommodation for the elderly, those needing supported care along with visiting professionals and students.

Youth recreational facilities and skill training facilities are being targeted as stage three, with the project being completed with housing developments for families wanting to live and work in the area.

Spokesperson for The Colville Project Trust, Bronwyn Blair, said achieving the purchase of the land through the support of the community, was a very proud moment for everyone involved.

She said the purchase of the land now provided the stimulus to take the project to its next stage, meaning the Trust can now push on and look to achieve stage one construction beginning by the end of next year.

“We achieved a great milestone as until we got the land, it was difficult to move forward.”

Bronwyn said the money for the purchase had been raised by the community – “everyone has pulled together to make this happen”.

Already the Trust has started negotiations with architects and consultants with the aim of preparing consenting and subsequent plans by the end of 2023. The Trust has already had discussions with local community board and council representatives.

The Trust’s vision is that it wants to ensure the Northern Coromandel Peninsula is a thriving place to live, work and play. It will achieve this by ensuring the ongoing wellbeing of the community in supporting a strong circular economy.

Bronwyn said the project envisages self-sustaining Upper Northern Coromandel communities, retaining their unique character, while expanding essential services and social connections.

She talked about future proofing the community requirements and achieving “the biggest bang for its bucks”.

The property is located 1.4 km north-west of Colville Village, near to the Colville Sawmill. It is a coastal and rural area with moderately sloping hillsides. Being outside the recognised flood and tsunami zones, the site can accommodate the project vision both now and into the future.

In addition, with Colville Village situated inside a recognised flood and tsunami zone, the site provides a possible future opportunity in response to climate change for residents of Colville Village.

Please click the link below to hear the full interview with Bronwyn.