‘Rubber hits the road’ for Rakaia Recreation Centre
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
It is going to be an important 60 days for Rakaia, the local rugby club president says.
After receiving Ashburton District Council backing Rakaia rugby president Mark Hanrahan says “the rubber's hit the road” for its planned Rakaia Recreation Centre.
The plans to build a new facility at the Rakaia Domain were only locked in once the council committed to supporting the project in its annual plan last week, but Hanrahan said most of the work had already gone in.
“The next 60 days are us securing our final tranche of funding while signing off the designs and going out for tender to be able to make some final decisions in spring."
The clubs will tear down the out-of-date changing room facility and replace it with a fit-for-purpose building with clubrooms, changing sheds and public toilets.
Hanrahan said while the rugby club was driving the project, it would be a community facility.
Now the council had come on board, funding the public toilets and offering an up to $200,000 commercial loan, Hanrahan said the club had some final processes to go through before construction could hopefully start this year.
“We have the architect going through the final detailed design so we can go out to tender.”
They hoped to have the project designs ready to go out for tender in August and a decision made in September, he said.
The build timeline remained a “bit of an unknown” but they hoped to have things under way by the end of the year.
“We think it will take six months of building so we're still hopeful for completion by the second quarter of next year.”
The club had funds as it had been saving for a new facility for 10 years and recently sold its cross-town clubrooms, Hanrahan said.
After the club asked for a hand up not a hand out, Hanrahan said the fact of the council loan would open other funding options.
“We have a budget but the tender process will decide the final project cost.”
Hanrahan said the building would have clubrooms, with a commercial kitchen and bar that could fit up to 200 people, and it would be elevated so spectators could view games from the wrap-around, covered deck.
It would have six changing sheds and six individual public toilets.
To cater for the much bigger building, Hanrahan said the main field on the domain would shift over slightly.
Poll: Should the government levy industries that contribute to financial hardship?
As reported in the Post, there’s a $30 million funding gap in financial mentoring. This has led to services closing and mentors stepping in unpaid just to keep helping people in need 🪙💰🪙
One proposed solution? Small levies on industries that profit from financial hardship — like banks, casinos, and similar companies.
So we want to hear what you think:
Should the government ask these industries to contribute?
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60% Yes, supporting people is important!
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25.7% No, individuals should take responsibility
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14.3% ... It is complicated
Poll: Do you have a go-to adverse-weather checklist for your family? ☔⚠️
As reported in the Press, the same low-pressure system that lashed the North Island over the weekend is now making its way south, bringing heavy rain and strong winds with it. It’s a soggy start to the week for many of us.
With more wild weather on the cards, we’re curious: do you have a go-to adverse-weather checklist for your family? Or are you more of a “grab the torches and hope for the best” household?
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44.4% Yes - we like to be prepared
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38.9% Nah
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16.7% This is on my to-do list!
A Neighbourly Riddle! Don’t Overthink It… Or Do?😜
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post if you know the answer and the big reveal will be posted in the comments at 2pm on the day!
If you multiply this number by any other number, the answer will always be the same. What number is this?
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