Active Communities Investment Project shines in first year in Upper Hutt - Background
Background
The Upper Hutt Active Recreation Plan (UHARP) was adopted in November 2006 by the Upper Hutt City Council, following the completion of their Physical Activity Strategy (PAS), in June of the same year. The PAS was supported by a $20,000 SPARC investment and identified priority needs for the District.
As a result of the PAS, representatives from the education, health and community sectors including the local marae formed UHARP’s implementation strategy group. The early engagement of key delivery partners for UHARP has been critical to its success.
UHARP funding has been successful sourced by Upper Hutt City Council from a variety of streams. An application for SPARC Active Community Investment (ACI) funding resulted in a $360,000 investment over a three year period. The total project cost is $985,000 and further financial support has been sourced from Hutt Valley DHB, Ministry of Social Development, Work and Income NZ, New Zealand International Campus, Sport Wellington and Community Grants.
Additional support was provided by Upper Hutt City Council, Sport Wellington Region and Community First Foundation which enabled staff to be recruited to market and implement the plan which has become widely known as “Activation.” The injection of funding from Youthtown has also been a critical element in the subsequent development of Activation.
Activation was launched in April 2007 and is funded through until December 2009.
Many members of the initial project group have also continued on to take part in the community governance team for Activation.
Ideas around long term sustainability are currently being worked through. Some early suggestions have already been superceded, and the biggest challenge of the project has been to focus on sustainable options when new opportunities are constantly presenting themselves.
Updated | 10 Oct 2008.
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