The Kahu Youth Trust has applied for land use consent to convert the former Wanaka Physiotherapy building at 11 Russell St into a youth venue, replacing "The Crib" youth centre located beneath the Cinema Paradiso building in Ardmore St, where the trust has run its programmes since 2009.
Trust chairwoman Kim Tomlin said Kahu Youth was in a "really strong position", in terms of how it was perceived by the town's young people and the wider community.
"We've got cool finally," Miss Tomlin said. "Up until the end of last year we were struggling to get 10 kids maybe on the weekend, and now we're getting 30-plus.
"We've just really outgrown that [existing] space . . . and I think, as well, the community and the parents now see what an amazing resource and how important it [youth centre] is for the town."
Events run by Kahu Youth such as Wanaka's Matarirki (Maori New Year) celebrations - which this year attracted nearly 600 people, and Wanakafest's annual parade and youth challenge had significantly raised the organisation's profile and generated more community support.
"All those things are helping to solidify our place here," Miss Tomlin said. "People are just starting to come to us now offering help."
The Russell St site is zoned high density residential and the establishment of a youth centre at the property would be a restricted discretionary activity.
Wanaka Physiotherapy has relocated to the new Wanaka Lakes Health Centre in Cardrona Valley Rd and the property's co-owners, along with several neighbours of the property, have given their endorsement to the trust as a future tenant.
If approved, the new youth venue would feature office space for two youth workers, a lounge-kitchen space, an education room and an activities room and would almost quadruple the space of the existing facility.
Demolition of the building "The Crib" is part of at present was proposed, and the trust's lease agreement meant eviction could occur at any time, with just two weeks' notice, Miss Tomlin said.
A number of sites in Wanaka had been considered for a new youth venue, and many property owners had come forward to offer their buildings.
However, a survey was carried out of Wanaka young people to determine their needs and the resulting description was practically a perfect fit with the Russell St building.
