After 15 years’ planning, work on the $2.5 million Natural Heritage Centre was to begin on Monday but was delayed to give the remaining yellow-eyed penguins in the area time to leave.
Work on the car park has been under way over the past few months and construction of the building is expected to begin on March 13.
A grant of $500,000 for the South Catlins Charitable Trust (SCCT) project was announced by Tourism Minister Paula Bennett yesterday as part of the $2.49million Government Tourism Growth Partnership (TGP).
Trust chairman Paul Duffy said it was thrilled with the funding and saw it as recognition of the importance of the project nationally.
The centre will contain the area’s first visitor information and education facilities, as well as a cafe, a camping ground office, public toilets and a small theatre, all set in a landscaped garden with a large car park.
Funding has been secured by the trust, with support from the Southland District Council (SDC), the Department of Conservation (Doc) and local iwi.
Mr Duffy said every organisation involved had contributed "hugely" to the project, including a wildlife assessment by Doc to determine the impact on yellow-eyed penguins, Hector’s dolphins and native New Zealand sea lions.
Doc also contributed $850,000 for a toilet block.
The project recently came under criticism from locals and a former ranger after concerns car-park construction was disrupting nesting yellow-eyed penguins. However, Doc said it was satisfied the work would have minimal effect on them.
The SDC committed just under $1 million for a wastewater scheme. Venture Southland tourism events and community group manager Bobbi Brown applauded the SCCT’s dedication to seeing the project through and said the centre would provide an economic opportunity, as the Southern Scenic Route’s popularity was rising.
Southland Mayor Gary Tong and deputy mayor Paul Duffy also welcomed the funding announcement. Mr Tong said it was a tremendous boost for both the project and the trust.
Also included in the TGP announcement were two Rotorua-based projects, Skyfly Ltd and Rainbow Springs Kiwi Encounter, which received $810,000 and $630,325 respectively.
An additional $550,000 went to the Classic Motorcycle Mecca in Invercargill.
A total of $23.5 million has been invested in 33 projects since the TGP began in 2013.
