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South Alive community project launched

Tuesday 3 April 2012, 12:07PM

By Invercargill City Council

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INVERCARGILL

South Invercargill people from all walks of life are launching South Alive – a project to identify the best possible future for the area and ways to make it happen.

Project Coordinator Janette Malcolm said a start up group, supported by the Invercargill City Council and Venture Southland, and comprising a wide cross section of residents, organisations and local businesses had been meeting for about a month to lay the foundations for the project.

“The group is inviting everyone from South Invercargill to a public meeting on Sunday 15 April from 1-4pm at the St Andrew’s Community Centre on Elles Road.  There will be a free crèche facility and afternoon tea provided.

“The public meeting will identify the goals for South Invercargill – how people would like to see it in three years’ time – and what people think are the most important projects that should be undertaken.

“We want to come up with a vision of how residents want South Invercargill to be and the key ways of how to achieve this,” she said.

Ms Malcolm said members of the start up group were very committed and supportive of the South Alive project; and had made the following comments:

“Aurora College embraces the opportunity to give something back to the community in which it is sited. We welcome the involvement of our students and staff in South Alive and are confident there will be innovative projects they can take part in. We would love South Invercargill to become a location of choice and believe this initiative is a way towards this happening.” – Robyn Hickman, Principal, Aurora College.

“On behalf of the retail community in South City Invercargill, we think this is a marvellous initiative that will benefit not only us as retailers, but more importantly, the community as a whole and give us the boost that will energise us all.  We look forward to being part of the South Alive project and know that with the help and support of everyone this will be an amazing ride and we welcome its involvement.” – Marie Patton, Owner/Operator New World Supermarket, Elles Road.

"On behalf of the Neighbourhood Support Members of the South Invercargill area, we are very pleased by this wonderful initiative supported by the Invercargill City Council and Venture Southland. This initiative will benefit the people who choose to live, work and play in South Invercargill. Neighbourhood Support members look forward to being involved with the South Alive project, and ultimately towards achieving a goal to help foster a sense of community spirit where everyone is respected and valued, making South Invercargill a friendlier, safer and more caring place in which to live". – Veronica Williams and Marie Crowe, Convenors, Neighbourhood Support Programmes.

“South Alive is a vital programme which will allow us to make connections in the South Invercargill community.  We want to aspire to the very best in educational outcomes and we can only do that with the support of the community.” – Gary Pilsworth, Deputy Principal, Fernworth Primary School.

“ ‘Mo tatou, mo ka uri I muri ake nei. For our children and our children’s children.’ Our kawa is all about whanau, hapu, iwi. The South Alive initiative will benefit our whanau and Waihopai are excited to be involved and look forward to any projects that Marae and Runaka can be part of in making South Invercargill the place of choice,” – Waihopai Runaka.

“I offer our support to the South Alive project in encouraging our Pacific Community to get involved in the work that is ahead of us.” - George Brown, Deputy Chairman, Pacific Islands Advisory and Cultural Trust.

“One of the strengths of the start up group is that it has gathered a strong cross-section of the South Invercargill community and the connections formed can only add to the health of the community.  The aim is to hear the voice of the community at the grassroots level, and build a project that is what the people want, and which is driven by the community.” - Nyalle Paris, Minister, St Andrews Church, Elles Road.

“There are a lot of great things already going on in the South Invercargill community and the South Alive project is a positive way to recognise them, bring them together and build on them.” – Cr Thelma Buck.

“Urban rejuvenation and community-led revitalisation have been identified as key projects by the City Council in both the Long Term Plan and Thirty Year Big Picture Plan.  We are committed to working with the people in our communities and it is fantastic to see South Invercargill with such a strong sense of purpose and resolve.” - Cr Neil Boniface, Portfolio Lead, Urban Rejuvenation.

Ms Malcolm encouraged South Invercargill residents to talk to their neighbours, friends and family about South Alive and to come along to the public meeting.