A trust, which has not yet been formed, is seeking money to rent a Warrington building before a lease has even been confirmed.
Samantha Ashdown, a member of the soon-to-be established Waiputai (Blueskin Bay) Trust, spoke to a funding application at a Waikouaiti Coast Community Board meeting at Civic Centre last week.
Ms Ashdown said the trust wants to make the former Warrington Playcentre building — next to the Warrington Hall — a community centre and manage its operation.
The building was more "intimate and comfortable" for smaller groups to use than the larger Warrington Hall, she said.
The Dunedin City Council owned the building, and the land it was on, and had invited groups to apply for a licence to occupy.
Applications close on October 5.
The proposed trust was seeking $1670 from the board.
The money would pay for a year of rent ($720), gardening work ($700) and cleaning supplies ($100).
Ms Ashdown said the venue could be used by "multiple groups for multiple reasons", such as playgroups, coffee mornings and workshops.
The trust had not been established yet, she said.
"We have nearly finished our constitution."
Board chairman Alasdair Morrison said the application was "one of the stranger ones" the board had considered because a trust, which was not formed yet, was applying for money to pay rent before a lease had been secured.
He moved he write a letter on behalf of the board signalling support for the trust securing the lease but the funding application "lay on the table" for the board to consider at a future meeting — after the trust has formed and the council had selected a tenant.
Board member Andy Barratt seconded the motion and everyone voted in favour — except deputy chairwoman Geraldine Tait who stood aside from discussion due to a conflict of interest.
MURAL
The board gave the Waitati Hall Society $750 to go towards a $1500 project to get artist Bruce Mahalski to paint a mural on the side of Waitati Hall.
The mural would feature two native birds sitting on a branch, each drinking a cup of tea.
Mr Morrison and member Mandy Mayhem-Bullock stood aside from discussion due to a conflict of interest.
Everyone else voted in favour of giving the society $750.
