Funding approved for Clutha Budget Advisory Service’s food service
Clutha District Council approved funding support of $25,000 to the Clutha Budget Advisory Service to support the advisory’s Food Hub Service.
This financial support will help the advisory continue supporting the Clutha District community to ensure essential food security services remain accessible.
The advisory’s submission to the Long Term Plan was missed off the process due to a miscommunication and therefore was brought to this Council Meeting.
The Clutha Budget Advisory Service (CBAS), established in 2008 and a registered charity, was committed to improving the financial well-being of Clutha District residents (excluding West Otago).
Over the years, CBAS had expanded to address the changing needs of the community, including:
• Financial mentoring: teaching essential financial skills
• Happy Feet: providing school shoes for children
• Power and heating assistance: helping maintain a warm and safe living environment
• Document assistance: helping clients obtain necessary documents
• Money and Death Cafes: hosting information forums
• Banking assistance: supporting people with their banking needs
• Food tool kits and recipes: promoting healthy eating on a budget
CBAS now also manages the foodbank service in Balclutha after the Salvation Army withdrew a year and a half ago.
The food hub operates three days a week, distributing 1,015 food parcels to 420 clients in the past year, thanks to volunteers and support from organisations like the Salvation Army, Woolworths, Ministry of Social Development, Kiwi Harvest, Clutha Foundation, and Heartland Services.
CBAS relies on diverse funding sources and community support to sustain its expanded services.
With increased demand on the growth of the food hub the additional funding would:
• Cover ongoing operational costs, including staff salaries and utilities
• Maintain and repair equipment (fridges and freezers)
• Expand services to meet the growing needs of the community
• Ensure long-term sustainability of CBAS and its mission to empower self-sufficient and resilient individuals and families.
It was noted that CBAS will still need to reapply to next year’s Annual Plan for the continuation of this funding.
Our Place Lawrence-Tuapeka community plan updated
An updated Our Place Lawrence-Tuapeka has been approved by Council.
The community plan had been updated to ensure continued progress could be made to move forward with the identified project groupings.
The Our Place Lawrence-Tuapeka Community Plan was adopted in 2020 following engagement and consultation with the local community.
The initial plan included 11 project groupings and progress has been made on several of these areas over the last four years.
Some projects have been community-led (such as the Whitehaven Street playground), while others are led by Council staff with community input (e.g., work to reduce flood risk).
The plan has been updated to describe progress which has been made, and to include additional projects requested by the Lawrence-Tuapeka Community Board.
Some projects which the board no longer see as a priority have been removed.
The updated community plan with the nine project groupings can be read on Council’s website.