Rangiura redevelops

Four years of fundraising and seven months of construction have turned a $1.5 million plan for Rangiura into a reality. And that’s just stage one. Rangiura Trust Board has completed the first of three upgrades planned for one of Putaruru’s leading employers, Rangiura Home.

Trust chairman Henry Van Dyk said only time will tell how long the full $5 million redevelopment will take to complete.

Stage two, which is estimated to cost around $2.5 million, has no set date, Van Dyk said.

‘‘It all depends on funding.’’

The public, who helped raise the money required for stage one, was welcomed through the fresh facility on Sunday, checking out everything from the new rooms to the dedicated hairdressing salon.

Around 100 guests were invited to the official ribbon cutting, including Mayor Neil Sinclair and MP Louise Upston, before the wider public were given a guided tour through the new complex.

In his speech Sinclair gave special mention to Van Dyk and his dedicated team that had seen the project through.

‘‘Buy-in by the community has been the hallmark of Rangiura but that buy-in was made possible by the work of a dedicated trust board over many years. We have Stage two – $2.5 million: Upgrading the existing ‘‘grey wing’’ by turning 14 rooms into 12 with en suites. Another lounge and dining room will be built as well as 13 new rooms. Stage three – $1 million: Two new lounges for the long wing and dining facilities plus eight additional rooms with en suites. had great leaders of the trust but none more dedicated than Henry Van Dyk. It would be impossible to count the hours that Henry has put into not only this project but the running of the complex itself.’’

All 11 beautifully decorated bedrooms with en suites were available for viewing, as well as the new lounge, two new sluice rooms, a cafe, a new outdoor area and a spa treatment room.

The public was also given a demonstration of how the $5000 ceiling hoists, installed in all the new rooms, would work.

The facility has been ‘‘future proofed’’, Van Dyk said, catering to the changing demand.

‘‘[In the future] it’s going to work differently because we have different expectations. It’s made for the baby boomers because we are the ones who are going to be in there.’’

Currently there are 36,000 rest home beds in the country, he said.

‘‘ That has got to double by 2050.’’

And the trust has this in mind as it moves onto stage two of the upgrade.

Van Dyk said raising capital is difficult and all expansions are limited by access to funds.

‘‘We get no funding from the government at all.’’

Thankfully the community has never failed to step up and Van Dyk said they endevour to return the loyalty where possible.

More than 70 per cent of the workforce involved in the latest build were local subcontractors.

Every year Rangiura puts about $3.5 million back into the comunity through wages and services.