Historic Hanmer building restoration hit by rising costs

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

The restoration of an historic Hanmer Springs building remains on track, despite a budget blowout.

The Hurunui District Council will seek a $300,00 grant from the Rata Foundation towards a $425,000 funding shortfall for the restoration of the former Soldiers’ Block in the Queen Mary Historic Reserve.

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, while the site also has cultural significance for Ngāti Kurī.

Speaking at Tuesday’s (August 27) council meeting, chief strategy and community officer Judith Batchelor said the project budget has been revised to $3.6 million, after just under $3.18m was budgeted in the council’s 2023 annual plan.

She said the funding shortfall was due to expected increases in materials costs and changes to the heating system, while the removal of linings and floor coverings revealed structural elements which were not shown on the original building plans.

The remaining $125,000 will be funded from the Queen Mary Development Contributions Fund.

The funding will allow the first two stages of the project to be completed, with the building on track to reopen on Anzac Day next year.

Stage one is earthquake strengthening and bringing the building to code, while stage two will see the main hall reinstated for community use.

The long-term vision will be to establish a museum with an interactive experience called ‘‘A Place of Light and Life’’, which will tell the story of the site.

But it will require the community to raise a further $6 million and discussions have begun around creating a temporary exhibition.

Batchelor said conversations have already been held with the Rata Foundation.

‘‘Our conversations with Rata have been around how we can keep the story alive during the different stages of the project.

‘‘We have a video and bed and I’m confident we can get our hands on more information for the exhibition space to provide a wet weather activity and an educational opportunity for the 15,000 school children that visit Hanmer Springs.’’

The council also approved the use of $430,000, from interest accrued from the Queen Mary Development Contributions Fund, to help kick start fundraising efforts for the next stage.

Hanmer Springs councillor Tom Davies said developing the Queen Mary Historic Reserve, including the Soldiers’ Block, is ‘‘a key anchor project for Hanmer Springs’’.

‘‘The support of the locals is just amazing,’’ he said.

‘‘I have been lucky enough to have a look inside a couple of times and now that the panels have been removed you can see the architectural genius of the building.

‘‘It is an absolute gem for Hurunui and it will be something we can be so proud of when it is finished.’’

The $3.6m restoration 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.

■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.