Investigation begins on strengthening options for Hawke’s Bay Opera House

Options for strengthening the Hawke’s Bay Opera House will be determined during the development of a Structural Design Report on the buildings.

Hastings District Council has contracted Holmes Consulting to prepare a report on the buildings, which were closed earlier this year following concerns over their earthquake strength.

Mayor Lawrence Yule says “Council remains committed to the restoration of the Opera House to its former glory. The work to be completed by Holmes Consulting will provide information on the costs and scale of a number of strengthening options.”

Lawrence Yule says “The information from the report will be vital to Councillors as they make decisions on how we will proceed with strengthening the buildings and funding options that are available through the 2015 LTP process in late February/early March 2015.”

“Council has allocated $1.5m for this project in the 2014/15 financial year, and an allowance of $7m is included in the 2015-25 LTP, pending the information contained in the Holmes Structural Design Report. The concept and preliminary design work is due for completion by the end of February 2015,” Lawrence Yule says.

Engineering advice received in March 2014 resulted in the closure of the theatre, followed shortly after by the closure of other public spaces in the Municipal Buildings. Building tenant, Hutchinsons Furnishers subsequently moved from their premises in the complex to a site further north on Heretaunga Street.

The building is likely to be closed to the public for around 18 months to 2 years while strengthening options are progressed.

The Opera House Plaza remains available for events and Opera Kitchen continues to trade from their premises in the complex.

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