A proposal for the Mackenzie District Council to loan $330,000 to help build a new medical centre in Twizel and sign a perpetual lease with a peppercorn rental for the land is going out for public comment.
The High Country Medical Trust is proposing to build the new centre on a 2700sq m site, part of the Twizel Golf Club's lease.
It will replace a house which was originally acquired from the Government and had since been used for the medical centre, which has 1600 registered patients.
The new building is estimated to cost about $1.8 million, with the trust raising funds for the project.
In February last year, the council considered a proposal under which it would transfer its interest in the existing medical centre into the new centre.
It was also asked for a perpetual lease of land.
Now the trust has changed its request, instead seeking a loan of $330,000 with ownership of the old medical centre transferring fully to the council, which would sell it to recoup the loan.
The loan would be available as soon as a contract was signed to build the centre.
At the next council meeting on October 28, it will consider:
• Providing $330,000 equity from the existing Twizel Medical Centre towards the new Twizel Medical Centre. These funds would be allocated by way of an interest-free loan that would only become repayable if the new facility was sold by the medical trust.
• Providing a site for the new facility on council-owned land at a peppercorn rental in perpetuity.
• Undertaking a subdivision (boundary adjustment) to create a site for the proposed medical centre. The estimated cost for the subdivision is $32,250, plus the cost of the physical works and engineering approval fees. Council is proposing to pay this cost.
Before it makes a final decision, the council wants to hear from the public.
The council's Long term Plan contemplated construction of a new medical centre being financed largely through community fundraising, but with council ownership of the assets, a statement of proposal said.
The aim was to encourage the continued provision of medical services at Twizel.
''The High Country Medical Trust initiative is well organised and has strong community support. It is expected that this initiative will be successful ...,'' the statement said, in part. Public submissions need to be lodged with the council by 3pm on Friday, October 24, 2014.
A copy of the proposal along with a submission form is available to view on the council's website at: www.mackenzie.govt.nz
