TECT boost much-needed for St John station upgrade

Jeremy Gooders from St Johns Ambulance. Photo/file

St John Tauranga's base is to get a major overhaul after receiving a TECT grant worth more than $2 million.

The Tauranga Energy Consumer Trust last night confirmed a $2,034,000 funding grant.

St John district operations manager Jeremy Gooders said the new premises would also house meeting and training facilities for St John youth groups and public first aid and life skills.

Bill Holland

The TECT grant meant St John could move ahead with the $4.5m project. St John and various other local organisations had also put money towards the upgrade.

"This will be a first-class facility ... and the contribution from TECT has been absolutely integral to getting the project off the ground." said Mr Gooders.

St John Building Trust chairman Richard Cashmore told the Bay of Plenty Times he was "absolutely delighted."

Richard Cashmore.

"The community desperately needs a new St John's centre so it's just marvellous."

St John was a huge part of the community and the facilities were outdated and beyond repair, Mr Chasmore said.

He praised St John for its work in the community.

TECT chairman Bill Holland said he was delighted TECT had been able to support such a worthy project.

"It is great to see so many different people and businesses working collaboratively to assist St John on this project," Mr Holland said.

Plans for housing operational staff along with garaging transport vehicles and ambulances had now been confirmed.

The Tauranga station was the second busiest ambulance station in the central region, after Hamilton, and the building had reached its capacity.

The St John Building Project Trust was formed by businesses within the ANZ Centre on Cameron Rd to assist with the reconstruction of the St John Building.

The businesses within the building, compromising Cooney Lees Morgan, ANZ, KPMG, Staples Rodway, Rothbury Finance, Key Market Research, Bayleys Real Estate, Aureon and Elizabeth Caf and Larder, formed the Trust with a view to each bringing their set of skills to the table for the project.

TECT general manager Wayne Werder said St John provided an important service in the community .

Mr Werder said when looking at grant applications, a service had to show a wide connection to the community with inter-generational benefits.

"Clearly St John is important to the community. When we look at grants for the Western Bay and the Tauranga region, [St John] is clearly the service that will connect with other people."