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QMRT Media Release 17th October 2008

The Queen Mary Reserve Trust welcomes governments decision to keep part of land in public hands.

The Queen Mary Reserve Trust welcomes the decision made by the Government to vest the Northern 6 hectares of the former Queen Mary Hospital land with the Hurunui District Council. " We have spent the last five years striving to ensure that atleast some of the Queen Mary land would be available to the public, and the Hurunui District Council has been most helpful in this". said Dr Robert Crawford, chairman of the trust and former medical superintendent of the hospital. "We welcome the opportunity to move forward positively and participate in what is being developed."

Community involvement will be important in determining the future use of the historic building and garden. "The Advantage to the community is huge and will become more apparent as time goes on." said Rosemary Ensor, Hanmer Springs Community Board chairman.

The Trust meanwhile will continue it's free guided walks around the grounds at 12 noon each Sunday, and these could be a good forum for community discussion and creative ideas.