Construction Soon To Begin On The Curio Bay Natural Heritage Centre

A decade and a half of planning is about to pay dividends as construction work begins on the Curio Bay Natural Heritage Centre.

15 years ago the South Catlins Charitable Trust (SCCT) saw the need for a facility to provide education and information on the attractions in the area to the growing number that visit annually to experience the wildlife and Petrified Forest.

The trust today received a significant boost with confirmation offunding from the government’s Tourism Growth Partnership (TGP) of $500,000.

SCCT Chair Paul Duffy says the trust see the TGP funding as recognition of the importance of the project at a national level, “we are thrilled with today’s announcement especially as construction is about to get underway”.

“We also want to acknowledge contributions from the Lottery Environment and Heritage Fund ($500,898), the Community Trust of Southland ($800,000) and all those have supported the trust’s fundraising through the years.”

Venture Southland Group Manager for Tourism, Events and Community Bobbi Brown is applauding the SCCT’s commitment to seeing the project through.

“It’s been a pleasure to have worked alongside such a dedicated group for 15 years. The TGP funding is an endorsement of the trusts commitment to seeing that the environment and wildlife are preserved while providing visitors with a special experience.”

“Not to be overlooked are the economic opportunities the centre will bring to the area as the popularity of the Southern Scenic Route continues to increase,” says Mrs Brown.

The SCCT is attributing the project’s success up until now to a 2012 memorandum of understanding between itself, the Department of Conservation (DOC), the Southland District Council (SDC) and ongoing support and advice from Iwi.

“Every organisation has contributed hugely, SDC committed just under $1m to a waste water scheme, DOC is spending $850,000 on a toilet block, car park and also conducted a wildlife assessment which concluded that the centre’s impact on the areas Yellow Eyed Penguins, Hector dolphins and New Zealand Sea Lions would be minimal,” says Mr Duffy.

The $2.5m complex will house a heritage and visitor interpretation centre, café, a small theatre and ablutions block.

Contractors Calder Stewart were expected to begin construction on Monday but work has been delayed to give the last remaining Yellow Eyed Penguin extra time to leave the area.

Construction should begin on 13 March.