Cultural centre ‘getting real’
Construction of a long-awaited arts and cultural centre in a Rangitı¯kei town is not far away, with the project now open for tender. The $5.2 million Bulls Community Centre will be built on the site of the now-demolished Criterion Hotel and used as an information centre, town hall, library and bus stop. It will also feature a youth space and town square. Rangitı¯kei mayor Andy Watson said the detailed design had been finished and an application for a building consent submitted. The contract should be finalised before the end of August, he said, with construction to start soon after, pending a final thumbs-up from councillors. The latest development may give the community confidence the finishing line is in sight, after an exhaustive five years of preparation. There were people who thought the project would never go ahead, Watson said, but feedback had been clear. ‘‘They told us to just get on with it. It’s the most significant project this council has undertaken. Now this project is getting real, I’ve had people wanting to get their name on the sponsors’ honours board. I’m looking forward to being able to shout a beer or a glass of wine to our sponsors.’’ Watson had ‘‘undying respect’’ for Central House Movers director Mike O’byrne, who has donated a house to ensure the community meets its funding contribution. The renovated home will be moved to a new subdivision on Walton St and sold. Plans to bring the town’s main facilities under one roof were pitched in 2013. Six sites were identified in 2014, with the top three sites put out for community consultation, those being the Toy Library, Information Centre and Criterion Hotel. Later that year, the council entered an arrangement with a joint venture partner, who bought the Criterion Hotel site. Architecture Workshop was appointed to prepare the designs. A public meeting in August 2016 forced architects back to the drawing board, to increase the hall and stage area, and the number of seats and toilets. This increased the cost from $3.6m to $5.2m. Work began on detailed design drawings in September 2017. The air force has also donated a Skyhawk, which will sit near the new town square.