Mike, Owen aged five, Adam aged two and Natasha Langridge. Photo / supplied
Mike, Owen aged five, Adam aged two and Natasha Langridge. Photo / supplied
An Auckland charity has formed an alliance with Autism New Zealand to expand early detection and support of developmental disabilities in infants and pre-schoolers.
The Laura Fergusson Trust will use money from selling an Auckland property to "transform and expand" its activities, its chief says.
Chris O'Brien, Laura Fergusson Aucklandchairman, said: "The strategic alliance with Autism New Zealand is just the first of the new initiatives we hope to launch in the coming months and years, as the Trust enters an exciting future with a new governance and financial structure."
O'Brien said money from the sale of the trust's Great South Rd property would go into new services including funding Autism NZ's first steps programme in west Auckland.
"Laura Fergusson Auckland is in the process of selling its central Auckland property, as disability research encourages, and consequently Crown Agency health policies are focused towards caring for people within their homes or communities, rather than in a centralised facility," a statement said.
The sale will settle before the end of 2021. Auckland Council values the property for rating purposes at $22m although the Herald understands the sale price was higher than that.
The Langridge family said they had worked with Autism NZ via its early steps programme for their son Owen, now aged 5.
"By the time an autism diagnosis had come along we had been in their care nearly a year and had already learnt so many tools to help guide us along the way," mother Natasha Langridge said.
The trust said it intends to put the property money towards its new focus.
"The proceeds of the sale, expected to be finalised before the end of this year, will provide the basis for the transformation of the trust into a body well-equipped to serve the wider disability community, both through collaborative initiatives, such as that with Autism New Zealand and stand-alone projects where several promising initiatives are also being evaluated," the trust's statement said.
The property sale was opposed by some who protested outside the property earlier in May.
But O'Brien said the trust "remains true to its founding purpose and values".
Changes to health funding models and policies meant the trust would focus on projects to improve accessibility for disabled people via breakthrough technologies and other initiatives, he said.
"The aim is to assist the disabled community and their families to achieve an improved quality of life," O'Brien said.
Plans for the new mixed-use project on the trust's site. Photo / supplied
Laura Fergusson Trust Inc annual returns on the Charities Register showed a worsening financial situation in the past few years to the point that last year, it had a deficit of more than $2m.
In 2012, the trust spent $12.2m, more than its $12.08m income. By 2013, income had risen to $12.9m, almost equal to the expenditure of $12.3m.
A year later, $11.1m came in but $500,000 more was spent, equating to $11.6m. That pattern continued until last year where $8.7m income was trumped by $11m expenses.
The Herald reported this month how apartments, shops and offices are now planned to be built on the former Laura Fergusson Rehabilitation site in Epsom, with consent sought under the Government's Covid fast-tracking response measures.
An application has been made to speed up planning consent for the scheme at 224 Great South Rd where the now-shut rehab centre operated for many years.
In May tetraplegic Sophia Malthus was among disabled protesters clutching placards who rallied in Greenlane, calling on authorities to save the trust which supports young disabled people with physical and neurological impairments.
The centre provided treatment from its home and respite care unit for almost half a century, so young people with disabilities did not have to go into rest homes.
Auckland Council records show 224 Great South Rd has a land area of 9235sq m or nearly 1ha. The site is used as "special accommodation" and valued at $22m for 2020/21 rating purposes, records show.
The land has a built floor area of 2079sq m on it, is zoned residential for terrace and apartment buildings and has 41 off-street car parks.
Annual rates are $46,453.43.
The fast-tracking application to develop the site has been made by Jim Castiglione's Urban Resort and Australian builder Icon Co Pty (NZ) to the Ministry for the Environment.
An image from planners Campbell Brown shows buildings up to five levels planned for the 1.4ha site. The project is called the Ōmāhu Residential Development according to the ministry's website.
Jane Carrigan, a disability advocate, challenged the trust's statement about changed funding models.
"There has been no change to health funding models. The most pressing need in Auckland for young people with disabilities is supported accommodation," Carrigan said.
