Restoration to begin on historic Soldiers’ Block
Restoration of an iconic Hanmer Springs building is another step closer after a local contractor was selected for the work, with the aim of boosting local employment.
O’Brien Construction has won the contract to restore the historic Soldiers’ Block in the Queen Mary Historic Reserve, as part of a $3.5 million redevelopment. The contract is to restore and earthquake strengthen the building.
Hurunui District Council chief executive Hamish Dobbie said he was pleased the contract has been won by a local business.
“It is good to see these types of projects won locally as the money stays in the local economy and local people are employed. To be able to bring it (Soldiers’ Block) back to life will be something quite special.”
O’Brien Construction has previously worked on large projects with the Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa. Dobbie said work was expected to begin by the end of the month and was likely to take 12 months.
The Soldiers’ Block was opened in 1916 to rehabilitate soldiers returning from World War I, and was later used as a drug and alcohol treatment facility.
Hanmer Springs Community Board chairperson Mary Holloway said the town was “really excited” progress was finally being made, after the Queen Mary Historic Reserve was vested in the council in 2010.
Hanmer Springs-based councillor Tom Davies said the project would breathe new life into the reserve.
The $3.5m project is being funded by a Lotteries grant, $1.5m from the Government’s Better Off funding, development contributions and a grant from the council’s Earthquake Prone Buildings Fund.
Other proposed developments on the site included plans for Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura to build a wharenui on the site.
Plans are being developed to turn the Soldiers’ Block into a museum, which will require a further $5m to be raised.
The council is also proposing to build a new sports pavilion on the site and has budgeted $400,000 in its long-term plan.