Historic Hanmer building restoration hit by rising costs
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.
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Older residents call for Amberley bus service
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
A lack of public transport and access to healthcare were among the issues raised in recent a survey of older residents in the Hurunui district.
The Hurunui District Council surveyed residents aged over 60 during August and September, as it looks to develop an age-friendly community plan to support an ageing population.
There are currently no public bus services in Hurunui, which includes the town of Amberley, about 40km north of Christchurch.
Community development facilitator Vanessa Nelmes said public transport is a big issue for many elderly people, while accessing medical care when needed remains a concern.
While there are a number of community vehicle trusts operating in the district, respondents felt a regular bus service from Amberley to Rangiora and/or Christchurch is needed.
Hurunui mayor Marie Black has been among those advocating for a bus service, but for now Environment Canterbury says there are no plans to offer public transport in the district.
The distance to medical care in Christchurch and the lack of a dentist were also mentioned, Nelmes said.
The survey received 213 responses from residents aged from 60 to their 90s, with half coming from residents in the south ward, which includes Amberley.
Nelmes said the survey found a majority of the respondents felt confident using computers, internet and / or smart phones.
‘‘It kind of puts that myth to bed that old people don’t like using technology.
‘‘I think we really do need to change our mindset compared to what is really happening in our community.’’
Although about 50 respondents said they were not confident using technology, showing there was still a need for providing support.
The survey also asked if people would like to improve their skills with technology and it was ‘‘evenly split’’, Nelmes said.
A concerning trend in the survey was a number of respondents who said they felt socially isolated, especially those new to the community, she said.
‘‘We had half a dozen people who replied along the lines, ‘you have to put yourself out there, but it’s how to make the first step’.’’
The survey has been analysed by the age-friendly steering group, which plans to widen its membership to include different agencies such as district nursing and is seeking a rural voice, Nelmes said.
Council staff plan to do a stocktake of services available for senior citizens in the district, before beginning work on a draft age-friendly plan.
Environment Canterbury public transport strategy and planning manager Sonia Pollard said there are no plans to extend bus services into Amberley or the wider Hurunui district.
‘‘The focus for public transport improvements is on delivery of the core routes in Christchurch and the direct services between the main urban areas in Waimakariri and Selwyn districts and Christchurch City.
‘‘Service improvements are reliant on funding through local rates and the National Land Transport Programme.’’
She said routes outside large urban areas are unlikely to meet the funding criteria in the 2024/27 National Land Transport Programme.
But as part of the 2025/26 annual plan staff are considering how to best serve the rural community, including assessing new routes outside the Greater Christchurch boundary.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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