30 April 2018

With the opening of the new Lower Hutt Events Centre and refurbished Town Hall just a couple of months away, early interest in hiring the facility is encouraging.

The Events Centre, due to open mid-year, is one of the key projects in Hutt City Council’s strategy to rejuvenate the city. It will attract new and bigger events to Lower Hutt, and will add to a suite of Council facilities across the city that cater for a range of community needs and budgets.

The complex is expected to inject between $55 and $75 million into the local economy over the next 20 years, with stimulus and flow-on effects to restaurants, retailers and accommodation providers and the creation of new jobs, further boosting the economy.

Lower Hutt Deputy Mayor David Bassett says the Events Centre will increase the region’s capacity for hosting events, including national and international events.

“The Events Centre is a world class facility that will enable us to attract bigger and better events than we have previously been able to - like conferences, exhibitions and banquets,” he says.

“It’s just a 15 minute drive from Wellington, has good access and is in an appealing setting with the three hectare Riddiford Garden as its backyard. The extra visitors will boost our economy and add to the vibrancy of our city,” he says.

As well as the new Events Centre, Council will also be unveiling the refurbished and earthquake strengthened Town Hall. “This gives us the best of both worlds, retaining the heritage of our much-loved Town Hall to host performances and shows, and gaining a modern, flexible space to host events, ”he says.

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