Social services struggling to keep up with demand are edging closer to new facilities in Queenstown.
Frankton (in the foreground) at dusk, next to Lake Wakatipu. Photo: 123RF
The Salvation Army is just $370,000 short of its fundraising goal to build a new community hub in Frankton.
A Salvation Army South Island manager, Jade Zeina, said the $9.9 million hub was much needed for the rapidly growing community.
"We're stretching the limits of what's possible for our current building and other local agencies are as well," Zeina said.
"We're finding rents are really high in the area and facilities are really poor."
Frankton was chosen as the centre's location to be close to families who were already receiving support, she said.
The hub would also make it as easy as possible for those who were struggling to get help as everything would be under one roof.
"The building will host all the Salvation Army's community services, we'll have social workers, counsellors, migrant support counsellors and financial mentors.
"It will also host Frankton's very first and much needed food bank."
The hub includes an auditorium, offices, multipurpose rooms and a Salvation Army family store too, which will help cover the maintenance costs of the building, while providing clothes and bedding for clients.
In Queenstown, most services worked closely with one another, so the centre would be a collaborative facility with other agencies, Zeina said.
"The whole first floor is for other agencies, so they can have low-cost, long-term offices and meeting spaces."
It was exciting time for Queenstown, Zeina said. She hoped the centre would be open early next year.