Empty hall racks up$193,000 in costs
The future of a historic Porirua hall, which has cost $193,114 to maintain for the five years it has sat empty, could now be decided in October.
Built in 1942 as a recreation hall for Marines camped in Titahi Bay, the building was closed in 2012 after severe structural problems, including rotting walls and rusted steel, were discovered.
Since then the council has forked out for surveyors, engineers, builders and a survey to get the public’s view on whether to demolish the building.
Porirua City Council chief operating officer Tamsin Evans said council was now waiting for information from a community working group set up to try and save the hall and was aiming to present options for consideration at a meeting on October 7.
Council had no funds set aside for demolition costs and no decision had been made on whether it would commit any money towards a restoration project, she said.
In July the working group issued a press release detailing their plans but would not answer questions or give further details.
In the release, working group chair Wendy Leary said a ‘‘three stage fundraising programme’’ had been presented to Porirua City Council.
‘‘Stage one, engaging a structural engineer to progress existing documentation to a stage where it meets building consent criteria, will cost about $3000.
‘‘Stage Two will cost about $273,000 to return the building shell to a weathertight and compliant state. About $200,000 will be from major sponsors and Porirua City Council, $45,000 in volunteer labour and $28,000 in public and private donations.
‘‘Stage Three, which is interior work, will be finalised once the requirements of the anchor tenant are known.’’
The working group would apply to the Porirua Community Trust for $150,000, Leary said.
The hall was used by the marines for less than a year and remained a community hall since, with Porirua Little Theatre’s use of the hall dating back to the 1950s.
In 2013, the council issued a notified resource consent to demolish the building.