CBay project reveals how communities can contribute to new facilities

In Timaru, on the east coast of New Zealand's South Island, the district's population of just over 40,000 people has sent an emphatic reminder to councils everywhere that worthwhile projects can rely on community fundraising.

Five hundred donors including district mums and dads, public funders, private trusts, major corporates, service clubs, community groups and individuals raised $6.7 million towards the $23.5 million of the recently opened Caroline Bay Trust Aoraki Centre (known as CBay).

Larger businesses in South Canterbury also contributed $1.2 million in pledges and partnerships to the new aquatic and recreation centre, with the balance coming from six major funders and local medium and small businesses, service clubs, organisations and families.

Supporting Timaru District Council goals to provide the best level of community infrastructure in a way that caters across the popu-demographic, the commitment to CBay has attracted national and international attention.

Commenting on the donations, Fundraising Institute of New Zealand Chief Executive James Austin told the Timaru Herald that to his knowledge, it was the "most successful New Zealand fundraising campaign for a community pool."

Even more astonishing is the fact that the CBay funding flow ran parallel to other South Canterbury fundraising projects and competed for the same dollars.

In the funding period, more than $15 million of non-council funding was achieved for a total of six projects with a combined cost of $32 million including CBay. This was achieved from 6,000 donors, including public funders, private trusts, major corporates, service clubs, community groups and individuals.

Key to the success of the integrated funding approach was agreement by Timaru District Council and key funders on a vision-based approach.

The global overview needed a collaborative funding strategy by major funders to address these projects and this was devised and articulated by consultants the Simply Great Leisure Group (SGL).

SGL Director Steve Bramley said it was unusual to have so many of the local business community give so generously to a community pool.

Bramley explained "it just doesn't happen in some of our cities, and it's a reflection of the sheer hard work by the Aquatic Supporters Club together with the best of provincial pride and support."

The March/April 2013 issue of Australasian Leisure Management includes a feature detailing community fundraising for CBay.

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