Kaiapoi hub planning progresses
By David Hill, local democracy reporter
After years of planning, Satisfy Food Rescue is excited work will start on the Kaiapoi Community Hub site soon.
The Waimakariri District Council is planning for site works to start in September, to kick start the proposed $6.8 million project in the former red zone, situated between Charters St and Courtenay Drive.
‘‘There is still a lot of work to do and we are going to need a lot of support from the community, but we are so excited that it is
starting soon,’’ Satisfy Food Rescue chairperson Phillipa Hunt said.
"It is pivotal for the project to be a success with purpose-built premises, so we can continue doing what we are doing, and to grow and provide more for the community groups that we look after."
Satisfy Food Rescue redistributes food from supermarkets and other outlets to more than 40 organisations, including food banks, in the Waimakariri and Hurunui districts, and in Christchurch.
The council is pitching in the first $1.6 million, and implementation project manager Duncan Roxborough said planning for enabling works, car park and croquet fields was in the detailed design stage.
He said the council is working closely with the recently established Kaiapoi Community Hub Trust and the Kaiapoi Croquet Club.
The trust was launched in March and is a collaboration between Satisfy Food Rescue, the Kaiapoi MenzShed and other community partners.
It has received a $200,000 grant from the Ministry of Social Development and is busy raising the remaining $5m.
Satisfy Food Rescue will occupy the northern end of the development, while the Kaiapoi MenzShed planned to build three sheds.
A shared community facility with a commercial kitchen and a large green space would also be established.
"It has such great potential in providing opportunities for collaboration and for all sorts of groups to be involved in ways we haven’t thought of yet," Hunt said.
The trust also planned to build an auditorium, with the possibility of a picture theatre and recording studio.
The Kaiapoi Croquet Club is also developing its own facility on the site with support from the council.
Other organisations had expressed an interest in joining the project and there were still sites available.
Speaking at last month’s Kaiapoi-Tuahiwi Community Board meeting, council community and recreation general manager Chris Brown said a
geotech report had been completed for the site.
Kaiapoi Community Hub Trust trustee Heath Kelly said the trust had several options to attract sponsors, including a legacy board and naming rights for buildings.
For information go to kaiapoihub.org
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Heritage gem or dangerous burden? Bowling club’s dilemma with historic pavilion
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
A Rangiora sports club is frustrated with the increasing maintenance and insurance costs of its 113-year-old pavilion, which can't be demolished due to its historic importance.
The Rangiora Bowling Club approached the Waimakariri District Council last year for help, but was yet to find a satisfactory solution for the pavilion.
It is registered with Heritage New Zealand and listed in the Waimakariri District Plan, leaving the club with few options.
The club’s ex-president Norman Hewett said the pavilion on Good St, north of the town centre, is unsafe and no longer fit for purpose.
Hewett said the council has been supportive and Heritage New Zealand has offered advice, but no funding.
‘‘Everybody thinks the building is worth preserving, but there is a cost and it shouldn’t be put on the bowling club.
‘‘As far as we are concerned it is not fit for purpose and we want to know how we can get round that.
‘‘We want to know what the community thinks and if they want to retain it, are they willing to pay for it?’’
The club has formed a sub-committee to explore what options are available.
Sub-committee member Rodger Wilton said the club has been unable to find any record that the club had a say when the building was given heritage status.
Built in 1911, the pavilion served the Rangiora Bowling, Tennis and Croquet Club, which originally shared the site.
It cost 945 pounds and was opened on October 28, 1911.
The three clubs purchased 1.25 acres on the corner of Blackett and Good streets in April 1905, but later parted company, with tennis and croquet moving to new sites.
While no quotes have been sought, Hewett believed it would cost more than $1 million to bring the pavilion up to code.
Ideally the club would like to demolish the pavilion so it can upgrade its main building and remain on site.
The stairwell was non-compliant and there was no wheelchair access, meaning the club was unable to use the upstairs facilities.
There are loose tiles on the roof which need replacing.
An attached building behind the pavilion is sufficient to meet the needs of the 140 members and for hosting the largest bowls tournament in North Canterbury, Hewett said.
He said the club is open to all options, including a land swap or selling to a developer with the expertise to restore the pavilion.
Waimakariri District Council community and recreation manager Chris Brown said the council is working through various opportunities with the bowling club as part of a feasibility study.
‘‘There are a lot of options to consider. Each have various financial, social and operational implications.’’
Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga said it had ‘‘expressed support for the adaptive reuse of the building and supported the club’s intention to investigate options for the pavilion and the associated land parcel’’.
The Rangiora Bowling Club is keen to hear the views of the community. Email rangiorabowling@gmail.com.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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