Stage, wings unlikely for civic centre
Construction of the new Matamata Civic Centre will go ahead as planned this year but the build will not include the extras to allow it to host major productions.
Matamata-Piako district councillor Kevin Tappin remains hopeful $1m can still be found to add a stage and wings to the new centre, despite a series of unsuccessful funding applications.
Provided time lines all go as planned, the new civic centre should be completed by the end of 2017, but won’t be ready to use until 2018.
Matamata-Piako District Council allocated $6m to the civic centre and while provision was made in the drawings for the addition of a stage and wings, it would need to be funded separately.
Tappin felt a stage and wings were a paramount addition to the civic centre, which would allow large scale performances to be held in the district.
When Tappin spoke in August he said the estimated cost would be around $100,000 just for the stage curtains and gear to operate it. There would also be costs to have a control booth, lighting, cabling and stage.
Over the past six months Tappin applied for funding grants through various sources including Creative NZ, however they were all unsuccessful.
‘‘It’s difficult applying for funding in retrospect,’’ he said. ’’Had we applied at the beginning of the process we may have been in with a chance.
‘‘For now we remain hopeful we can get it through council at some stage.’’
Construction for the civic centre is expected to take place in the first quarter of this year, providing the council approves the budget at its February meeting. Matamata-Piako District Coun- cil’s professional services unit manager Roger Lamberth says a successful shortlisted tenders for the build will be considered early next month. ‘‘Four of the shortlisted tenders were from Hamilton and Tauranga. The fifth is from Matamata and was the only supplier based within the district to register.’’
He says the requirements of the tender include that the main contractor use local subcontractors and suppliers where they can match the market.
Providing planning goes according to schedule, handover will be made on March 20 and based on a nine month build, the centre should be complete by December 20.
Following fit-out work he says the centre will be officially opened in early 2018.
An annual marketing and promotion plan will be produced to encourage groups to use the facility.