Selwyn_Times: June 29, 2022

Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Wednesday June 29 2022 Selwyn Times
NEWS 5
Hospital may become health facility
• By Susan Sandys
THE FORMER Lincoln
Maternity Hospital building
may in future become a health
facility.
Lincoln residents have had
their wish realised, of retaining
the building in the community –
for now.
At the last meeting of the Canterbury
District Health Board,
board members decided not to
proceed with selling the hospital
building and its land at this time.
The hospital closed May 31, as
its services were located to the
new Oromairaki birthing unit at
Rolleston.
Executive director planning,
funding and decision support,
Tracey Maisey, said the future of
the building was considered at
the final meeting of the health
board recently, prior to the transition
to Health New Zealand
this Friday.
“The board resolved not to
proceed with disposal at this
time,” Maisey said.
“The decision was made to
wait until Health New Zealand
had an opportunity to undertake
a wider review of property
required to meet long term demand
or health planning needs
of the region,” Maisey said.
Long-time Lincoln area
resident Sue Jarvis welcomed the
decision, as it would allow more
time for the community’s needs
to be taken into account.
The building was a
“lovely” and “homely”
large villa, with plenty of
rooms. It would make a
good medical centre or
other health facility, or a
community facility such
an arts centre.
Jarvis is also a cofounder
of the Lincoln
Community Garden at the site,
and among residents who want
the garden to be able to remain
there.
Sue Jarvis
The CDHB allowed Lincoln
Envirotown to establish the community
garden at the site
in 2008, and it has operated
there ever since.
The 5401 m2 property
contains the garden,
alongside the original
1926 maternity building,
and a 2011 dental building.
“The Lincoln Community
Garden continues to
be welcome to use the site in the
meantime,” Maisey said.
However, Lincoln Envirotown
Trust project manager Dave
REPRIEVE:
Canterbury
District Health
Board has
decided not to
proceed with
selling the
former Lincoln
Maternity
Hospital at this
time.
Fitzjohn said he expected the
garden would ultimately need
to relocate, as there was no
long-term guarantee that Health
New Zealand would not sell
the site. The trust operates the
garden.
“Even in the short term there
is no guarantee that services
such as water to the site will
continue,” Fitzjohn said.
However, relocating the garden
in itself could be seen as an
exciting new project, in which
Lincoln Envirotown would
involve the whole community,
he said.
The Canterbury District
Health Board has now
released a summary
of submissions from a
consultation phase on its
proposal to sell the Lincoln
Maternity Hospital and land
last year.
Twenty-one of 28 submitters
did not support disposal,
preferring to see the property
retained by the health board.
Residents had noted the
growth of Lincoln township
in their comments, some
referring to the future need
for a medical facility.
Others wanted to see the
property retained for older
persons health care, aged residential
and respite care, or
support and accommodation
for people with disabilities.
Many wanted to see the property
used for the benefit of the
community, perhaps through
the district council or another
organisation.
Some submissions noted
the community gardens
located on the rear of the
property.
Of the seven submitters
who favoured disposal, three
stated that they were in favour
of disposal but wanted to see
the land retained for health
or community purposes.
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Selwyn Waihora Water Zone Committee
Supporting the restoration of Boat Creek Reserve
The Selwyn Waihora Water Zone Committee is supporting a project to
restore and enhance Boat Creek and its reserve, located adjacent to
the Rakaia Huts village.
The Rakaia Huts community group, in partnership with Water and
Wildlife Habitat Trust, is leading the restoration project, which seeks to
enhance the reserve as a freshwater and native bush habitat hub that
sustains fish and bird life. The project also aims to improve water quality
in the lagoon and river catchment, acknowledge the cultural significance
of the area, and provide recreational access for everyone to enjoy.
With over 50 people volunteering about 1,800 hours of
labour, their most recent achievements include predator
control and planting 6,000 native seedlings in the reserve,
with more to come.
The Water Zone Committee is supporting the project with
$15,000 for weed control and planting, through its recently
introduced Canterbury Water Management Strategy Action
Plan Budget.
The Selwyn Waihora Water Zone Committee is a joint committee
made up of community members, rūnanga and local councils.
www.ecan.govt.nz/myzone E22/8968