Dance teacher overwhelmed by support in battle for hall
By local democracy reporter Jonathans Leask:
Dancers stood tall, and in big numbers, in their battle to save Ashburton's Balmoral Hall.
Dance teacher Charmaine Quaid put out the call for past and present students of her Dance Worx studio to assemble last Friday (April 5) in a show of support for retaining the Balmoral Hall.
She was blown away by the response with about 300 people turning up to show their support.
“It was overwhelming,” Quaid said.
“It was quite emotional to see some people from way back, and people coming from out of town and long distances especially to support us.”
Quaid has run her dance school from the hall for almost 50 years but it is now in limbo.
The hall requires an estimated $1.3m of repairs to be brought up to standard.
In its draft long-term plan, the Ashburton District Council is proposing to sell the hall and land as the costs to maintain and operate both sites are expensive, and the income received doesn’t currently cover the costs.
Quaid wants the hall retained but is conscious of not overspending on it.
“We don’t need a million, we just need the maintenance,” she said.
If ratepayers were to stump up and fund the repairs, they would also have to continue topping up the hall to subsidise the users – who may also face higher fees to use the building.
The Dance Worx gathering was used to collect statements of support for a long-term plan submission to retain the hall.
“We had quite a few lend their support to our submission and plenty say that they would also be doing their own.
“If you don’t have your say you can’t complain.”
As part of its consultation engagement the council is hosting a BBQ at Baring Square East on Saturday (April 13) from 10am to 2pm, and has decided to open the Balmoral Hall to the public.
The council’s democracy and engagement group manager, Toni Durham, said on the back of requests from the community to look inside Balmoral Hall, it made sense to align it with the event at Baring Square.
“It's primarily a chance for those who are not familiar with Balmoral Hall to be able to get a better idea of what the building looks like from inside,” Durham said.
In a similar event last weekend, an estimated 150 people turned up at the Tinwald Domain on Saturday to get a close-up look at the state of the Tinwald Pool and discuss its future, with the council proposing to spend $3m on a new outdoor pool at EA Networks Centre.
Mayor Neil Brown was pleased with the turnout to the event to discuss the options.
“The Tinwald Pool needs major repairs and some definitely want it to stay, but others see that money better spent elsewhere.”
Submissions on the long-term plan close on April 28.
Poll: Would you want an unconventional funeral?
Funerals can cost as much as $22,000 and the planning can be stressful especially at a time when loved ones are grieving. Some New Zealanders are re-imagining funerals by making their own coffin or having a relaxed ceremony at home. Would you want a less traditional funeral? Share your thoughts below.
Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.
-
83.6% Yes
-
14.2% No
-
2.3% Other - I'll share below!
Ashburton’s old library sold
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
The old Ashburton Public Library building has sold, but what that means for ratepayers remains under wraps.
How much it sold for, who the new owners are, and what their plans are for the site remain sealed for now.
The building, on the corner of State Highway 1 and Havelock St, was home to the Ashburton library for nearly 60 years.
Ashburton District Council chief executive Hamish Riach said there were three offers on the property and the settlement date is May 10.
“The purchase price remains confidential at this stage.
“The new owner has asked for anonymity until they are ready to announce their plans for the site, and we will respect that.”
The funds from the sale of the old library are planned to be put towards paying off the construction of Te Whare Whakatere, the new library and civic centre, offsetting the impact on ratepayers.
The council also planned to sell the old administration building site but a decision has not yet been made, Riach said.
“The council is looking to conclude the long-term plan process before making that decision.”
The final build cost of Te Whare Whakatere is yet to be confirmed.
“Once that is confirmed we will advise publicly,” Riach said.
Riach previously stated the final cost would be known after the “resolution of all matters between the council and construction and design contractors”.
Initially budgeted at $56.7m, before its completion the council signalled an overrun in the region of 10%.
The project also received $20m from the government’s shovel-ready infrastructure fund.
While the plans for the old library site remain unknown, the fountain on the corner of the site will move to the Tinwald Domain.
Business support group manager Leanne Macdonald said the fountain is on the same title of land as the library and the council has been talking with the family that donated it about its future once the library was sold.
“The council is currently working with a local contractor to build a drinking fountain beside the playground at the Tinwald Domain and some parts of the library fountain, including the fish, will now form part of the new fountain.
“We think this is a great way to preserve a slice of its special history.”
Spoil someone special this Mother’s Day
With Mother’s Day just around the corner, we’ve got you covered. Enjoy up to 34% off 1-year magazine subscriptions and grab a gift for yourself or a mother figure that’ll last all year long!
With over 50 titles to choose from, there’s something for everyone at mags4gifts.co.nz. To make your gift even more special, make sure to click the “This order is a gift” box to add a free personalised e-card to your order. Mother’s Day offers end at midnight on 11 May, so don’t miss out! T&Cs apply.
Loading…
