Wednesday 17 July 2013

Harewood Community Centre re-opens

Christchurch City Council has re-opened Harewood Community Centre, the first of six community centres across Christchurch and Banks Peninsula about to re-open under a recent exemption decision.

On 27 June the Council agreed a number of community facilities should be exempt from its policy of closing non-residential buildings that are less then 34 per cent of New Building Standard (NBS). They have little earthquake damage and engineers have advised that they are suitable to occupy. The buildings do not have a brittle collapse mechanism.
Another five buildings that fall into this category will be re-opened soon. They are: Risingholme Craft Rooms, Duvauchelle Community Hall, Little Akaloa Community Centre, Okains Bay Community Centre and Pigeon Bay Community Centre.

Mayor Bob Parker says it made sense to take this approach to these particular buildings.

“The buildings we are talking about here are wooden buildings that have failed a Detailed Engineering Evaluation because they were built before the current building standards came into effect, not because they are structurally unsound. And we are aware of the impact on communities when they lose their community halls, so getting these ones open as soon as we can is important.”

To get a building re-opened after a period of disuse, a number of building checks are required, including health and safety and essential service checks. The checks for Harewood have been completed and checks on the other five halls are underway.

Repair and strengthening costs for all six buildings are still under investigation and recommendations about each facility will be made as part of the Facilities Rebuild Programme.

For information on the Facilities Rebuild Project visit www.futurechristchurch.co.nz

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