The Luggate Community Association (LCA) is celebrating a year of progress, collaboration and long-term projects coming to fruition.

Luggate’s public facilities are being well used, new initiatives like a Lilliput Library and food pantry and new businesses are popping up, and local events are adding to the sense of community and vibrancy in Luggate, according to outgoing LCA chair Rod Anderson.

“For me [2024] has been a very satisfying year as instead of complaining about not getting things done we have had a number of satisfying results,” Rod said at the recent LCA AGM.

The “greatest news” of the past year was the announcement that the Luggate drinking water scheme upgrade has been brought forward, Rod said.

Last year’s AGM was dominated by concerns over the timing for the long-awaited upgrade, which had been deferred until 2027, and whether the existing supply had the capacity to cope until then.

After a faster and cheaper delivery method was discovered, and the upgraded system (comprising two new supply bores, access to a new water source, and a new ultraviolet treatment plant) is now due to be operational by the coming summer. 

“It is great to see it cross the line,” Rod said.

Rod said the Luggate Memorial Centre was being used by “an increasing number of varying groups” and the new playground, which officially opened in May last year, “is getting used more each day”.

“It was a great asset when the farmer’s market was held [in Luggate] just prior to Christmas.”

He said the food pantry, Lilliput Library, ‘Story Walk’, and information board about Luggate Creek were all great additions to Luggate.

Rod also thanked volunteers who had contributed to the continuation of Luggate’s green waste scheme, which he said was a “giant plus to the community”, as well as volunteers who helped with the local predator trap line, which “has already helped to improve the bird life” on the Devil’s Nook walking track.

Rod said a new business was operating from the former Upper Clutha Transport garage in Luggate, which had attracted visitors, and a new coffee cart “is also creating a stopping point for travellers”.

It could be “a sign of things to come…” Rod said.

Rod thanked LCA members for all their hard work and “commitment to the life of the village”.

Judy Thompson was appointed as the new LCA chair during the AGM and Rod is now the deputy chair.

PHOTO: Wānaka App