09 November 2018:

Council Receives Lotteries Funding to Repair and Upgrade Memorial Hall

Kaikōura District Council is ecstatic about that news that it has been granted $750,000 from Lotteries’ Environment and Heritage fund for repairs and upgrades to Memorial Hall. The hall suffered damage in the 2016 earthquake and requires approximately $1.5million worth of repairs and upgrades to meet code requirements and allow wider use by the community.

“It’s really exciting to receive this funding and we can’t wait to get stuck in and start the repairs to Memorial Hall,” Susi Haberstock, Kaikōura District Council Community Services Manager says. “The building has so much potential for so many users and we are delighted to be able to continue to provide this much loved space for our community activities.”

“The Memorial Hall requires a number of actions to make it safer, more useable and more comfortable for those who use it. The cost to repair and upgrade was really significant for our small community so to have a large chunk of that covered by Lotteries is very fortunate,” said Haberstock.

“This grant means that we will be able to provide the community with a safe and suitable venue and we are so grateful to Lotteries for helping us fix a building that has been part of the district for such a long time.”

Detailed design on Memorial Hall is due to be completed at the end of November 2018 and construction is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2019.

The Memorial Hall is part of Council’s Community Facilities Rebuild. The Community Facilities Rebuild covers Council managed community buildings, parks, reserves and facilities. This includes the Memorial Hall, Scout Hall, wharves and jetties, the tennis courts at Takahanga Domain and the districts public toilets.

Other highlights from the community facilities rebuild include:

Work on the Jimmy Armers beach toilet and shower block is scheduled to start in November and is expected to be completed by December. The toilet block was badly damaged in the earthquake and requires full replacement.

Detailed design is due to be completed in December for the Cuddon (Op Shop) Building. Construction is set to start on this building in the second quarter of 2019. Council staff are working with the Op Shop to help them stay operational during the construction period.

Immediate make safe work is underway on the exits from the Scout Hall to make sure users can get out quickly if there is a fire. The Drama Club section of the building requires substantial work and is currently closed. Council are working with key community users and groups throughout the repair process to ensure that community voice is represented.

ENDS

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