Balclutha’s $25million town hall facility Te Pou Ō Mata-Au (TPŌMA) has become a thriving hub of activity since it opened in August last year, including a recent concert run from New Zealand pop band Six60.
Facility director Mary Woodrow this week said many who came to the venue commented it would benefit from a cafe, and TPŌMA managing trust officials confirmed that could soon be a possibility.
Clutha Community Hub Charitable Trust chairman Dale Anderson said following a year of operation, the trust was considering options for use of a ground floor space earmarked for eventual commercial use.
"[Tenanting] the space was intentionally not pursued immediately upon the facility opening as we wanted to focus on new opportunities for the community and increase the visibility of the facility to a wider audience, while allowing local business to see the potential of the space with the increase in engagement.
"We have been approached by a number of parties, some have been hospitality, some have been retail, some wellbeing focused.
"We intentionally designed the space to be a tenancy but able to support the hospitality sector ... None of these conversations have reached a commercial agreement to date."
The recent economic downturn had been a factor in delays. However, the wider facility was thriving, and revenue targets were being met.
Earlier reports indicated the facility would cost about $600,000 a year to run.
TPŌMA had received an $80,000 Clutha District Council grant towards that total, he said.
"The amazing team on the ground are continuing to focus on securing and supporting opportunities for the community as they have been over the last 12-plus months.
"Alongside this we will be working on supporting an ecosystem around the co-work space to not only aid in the operational overheads, but to provide further opportunity in the business sector.
"The front space being tenanted alone will put us in a very good position going forward, which is a primary focus for us at the moment."
