There is excitement and anticipation in the air on Duke Street where the latest addition to the Feilding Health Centre complex approaches its due date.

On the site adjacent to the building that formally housed the Feilding Maternity Hospital, and is now the Feilding Health Centre, the old Clevely Ward has undergone a rebirth of its own.

Owned by the Manawatū Community Trust (MCT) since 2015, the building was always earmarked as an extension to the Feilding Health Care Centre development next door.

Since its opening in 2016, Feilding Health Care (FHC) has flourished and the nearly 1000 square metre Clevely Wing will provide welcome additional workspace for General Practitioners and the diverse medical services that are offered there.

Leased to Feilding Health Care Property Management Ltd., both buildings are owned by the Manawatū Community Trust on land that remains the property of the MidCentral DHB.

The Clevely Ward operated as a geriatric facility from 1983 to 2005, and was named after local Hospital Board member, the late Jim Clevely.

The $2.1M the Manawatū Community Trust will invest in developing the Clevely site has been tightly managed by a Project Control Group made up of representatives of the Trust, the FHC and construction company Colspec.

Manawatū Community Trustee and Project Control Group chairman Liam Greer says the Trust is excited about the extensive refurbishment of the Clevely Wing. “The development aligns with the Trust’s mission to promote the provision of health and wellbeing services to the residents of the Manawatu district.”

Greer says the Trust is happy to have Colspec working on the Duke Street site again. The Manawatū based construction company undertook the substantial new build of the Health Centre. “The Clevely project has thrown us plenty of challenges in a unique construction environment of transport logistics, labour and materials shortages.”

Chief Executive Officer of FHC Nicky Hart says, “We are extremely grateful to be working in collaboration with MCT to extend the Feilding Health Care Facility and appreciate their commitment to the community. The redeveloped Clevely Wing will be a more suitable environment for the community mental health team and allow for more GP and Nursing services.”

The MCT was established as a not-for-profit organisation in 2008 by the Manawatū District Council, and, as its core business, owns and manages 205 flats for pensioners and those with disabilities in Feilding, Rongotea and Sanson.

In its undertaking to meet the high demand for affordable housing in the area, the Trust has recently gained resource consent to build a further ten single bedroom flats and two double bedroom flats in Feilding. The cul-de-sac of units, accessible off Beattie Street, will be known as Corrick Court and is expected to be completed early in 2023.

The MCT also supports the Senior Hub of Manchester Social Services and the MENZSHED.