Solid Energy support for Buller developments

18 July 2007

Solid Energy support for Buller developments

Solid Energy is contributing $2 million to three significant Buller developments designed to improve the district’s sport and recreational facilities and its visitor experiences.

The three developments are key components of Buller District Council’s strategy to upgrade Westport town centre, along with the area’s recreational facilities and its visitor and tourism attractions. Solid Energy will contribute $1 million towards a new sports and leisure facility, to be known as the Solid Energy Centre; $250,000 to the development of visitor experiences at the historic sites of Denniston and $750,000 to a redeveloped Coaltown Museum.

Solid Energy Chief Executive Officer, Dr Don Elder, says: “Stockton Mine and the Buller community have supported our business for many years. While we have an active programme of supporting local community initiatives in the Buller, the Council’s visionary scheme to upgrade and enhance the district now gives us the chance to make a significant and lasting contribution.

“The sports centre will be a great asset, particularly for local schools and I’m sure that our current and future staff will see it as a positive benefit for the district. The developments at Coaltown and Denniston will be key to enhancing Westport as a visitor destination and at the same time enable us to tell the story of coal, its importance in the district and its contribution to the New Zealand economy, both in the past and in the future.”

Buller Mayor, Martin Sawyers, says he is thrilled with the financial support by Solid Energy. “The support means that the Council will be able to proceed with these important projects. Our future is very much tied to our community putting in place infrastructure for the next three generations. In undertaking that work it is great to have the support of our biggest employer. This is yet another example of how important Solid Energy and the community are to each other.”

Buller District Council has recently awarded the contract for construction of the new sports and leisure facility which will include an aquatic centre, netball courts, squash courts, an artificial hockey surface and fitness centre. The centre will be home to several local sporting organisations. It will also be used by Buller High School and other local schools for their physical education, sport and leisure programmes. Construction is expected to start within weeks, with completion scheduled by the end of 2008.

Funding for the Denniston Heritage Trust will enhance and interpret the Denniston Incline, create an underground mine visitor experience at the entrance to the old Coalbrookdale Mine and upgrade displays at the Denniston Museum. The Trust, which includes representatives of the Department of Conservation (which administers the area), Buller District Council and Solid Energy, also plans to improve the walking track network which connects the Denniston historic sites. The balance of $750,000 will be for the redevelopment of the Coaltown Museum in a new location at the heart of the upgraded town centre.

ENDS

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