The construction of an "essential" health hub in Kurow has begun.
The Waitaki Valley Health Hub’s helipad was laid last week.
Waitaki Valley Health Trust chairman Dr Jim Jerram said progress on the rest of the facility was "well advanced".
"There is mounting excitement in the community for what is really an essential facility for this region.
"It’s been long overdue and we’re delighted to see how the community has come forward and how the support has built as people recognise its significance.
"The current excellent progress with the project is due to a very effective and hard-working team of trustees, with support from professionals and within the community."
Alongside the helipad, the 750sqm building will include a general practice and rooms for physical therapy, social services and other healthcare providers.
It will also have accommodation spaces for visiting specialists, medical students or general staff who need to stay overnight.
Construction will be done in five stages, the first of which being the helipad, which was funded by a separate grant from the Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter Trust.
The trust hoped to apply to the Waitaki District Council for building consent for the building itself by the end of this month.
"We hope to be able to start building by September and continue right through with all five stages of the project."
The trust had raised "a substantial part" of the necessary funding, Dr Jerram added.
"We’ve had a very active fundraising process led by Juliet Gray and Kate Gibbon who have done extraordinary work."
In the meantime, a public notification for the revocation of the reserve status for the land on the corner of Gordon and Wynyard Sts was issued late last month.
The trust explored changing the land status of the reserve before the council then decided to revoke the reserve status in order to gift the land to the trust.
