School house refurbishment enhances Manawahe Eco Community
The Manawahe Eco Trust’s aim, to repurpose the area’s school into a well-resourced Ecological Centre, took a significant leap forward this week, after receiving a grant from the Eastern Bay Energy Trust.
The Eco Trust gained the use of the school after it closed in 2010 and has developed a teaching space for delivering a remarkably popular hands-on Environmental Education Programme for pre-school to secondary school-age students.
The grant, from the Energy Trust’s Community Development fund will see the disused Principal’s house brought up to electrical standard, enhancing opportunities for a wide range of eco-recreation and education activities.
Chairperson Fran van Alphen says the Manawahe Eco Trust is a community-based group that shares the vision of creating an ecological corridor by linking the diverse native habitat between Lake Rotoma and the Matata coastline.
“Our activities are largely focused on the protection of the native bush and its inhabitants from animal pest species and the ongoing development of the eco-centre to provide a hub for educational and recreational activities in the corridor.”
“The school-house project is a major undertaking. “It was certainly too big for us to take on by ourselves, so the support of the Energy Trust is tremendous. Our committee feels strongly that bringing the house back into use will draw many of our affiliated groups to the centre and hugely enhance our purpose of securing the area’s unique biodiversity.”
Eastern Bay Energy Trust chairman Don Lewell says the grant will cover the cost of equipment to provide a power supply, LED lighting, heatpump, smoke alarm and dishwasher. “Trustees recognise the important work the Eco Trust does and were very comfortable in supporting its efforts to provide a safe, warm, energy efficient environment for students, researchers and others who will use the facility.”
The $34,355 grant to Manawahe Eco Trust, was made at the Eastern Bay Energy Trust’s May meeting, where it also approved grants to: Edgecumbe Development and Improvement Team ($4,499.95 towards sound, lighting and backline equipment for the Oho Ake – Rise Up community concert); Waioeka Marae ($99,960.31 towards kitchen equipment including various appliances, gas oven, extraction canopy, freezer and chillers); Ohope Chartered Club ($8,238.04 towards CCTV, alarm and fire alarm upgrades); Opotiki District Council ($28,000 towards the installation of a BBQ at Waiotahe Beach and Solar Lights at Pakowhai Bridge and Ohiwa boatramp).