West Coast Connect Inc.

West Coast Connect Inc. is a not-for-profit community organisation that was established in 2013 by West Coast residents concerned about the high number of long-term unemployed jobseekers, in particular people under the age of 25 years, and the steadily increasing number of young people on the West Coast who have serious Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) problems as well as being alienated from education. Since 2013, West Coast Connect has hosted a wide variety of programs addressing the special needs of these marginalised groups to prevent long-term or life-long welfare dependency.

West Coast Connect operates a horticultural campus located at Lynchford Road, Queenstown. Nationally accredited courses in horticulture, including weed eradication and weed management, are delivered on a regular basis. Additionally, West Coast Connect works closely together with the two West Coast High Schools. Students attend the campus to engage in land care activities such as weed eradication, propagation of native plants, planting native bushes and trees. It is the aim of West Coast Connect to further develop our native plant nursery as a special activity for students in 2022. We also aim to clean up the river banks of the Queen River along Lynchford Rd and replant the banks with native species from our nursery. This activity will be part of a special training initiative for local youths as well as High School Students