Completion of a new community hall for Luggate, which was due to be built by the end of this month, has been delayed.

The Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) said the Luggate Memorial Centre Whare Mahana is now scheduled to be completed in late July after delays caused by Covid-19-related global supply chain issues.

Construction began at the end of May 2021 for a new hall to replace the original Luggate Hall, which was decommissioned in 2017 after it failed a seismic assessment.

QLDC property director Quintin Howard said the project was subject to the same issues facing the construction industry on a national and international basis.

“It’s always frustrating to push back the completion of any building project but this is now a familiar situation to everyone in the sector. The specialist windows required for us to meet Passive House standards are currently in transit from Germany after an initial delay obtaining these from the supplier,” he said.

The new hall is the first community facility in Aotearoa New Zealand to be built to Passive House standards.

“On a positive note, the main structure has been in place for a while and is looking great. We’ve been working closely with the Luggate Community Association to update them on progress and we’re looking forward to a grand opening over the winter,” Quintin said.

The council has also begun major earthworks in the area to install services, construct car parking spaces and landscape the surrounding Hopkins Street reserve. As a result, and to ensure public safety on an active construction site, the reserve will be closed until around mid-April, Quintin said.

“Closing the reserve and the walkway to and from Alice Burn Drive means we can get all of this work done faster and safer while we await the final material for the building itself.”

“Our aim is to reopen parts of the reserve in stages as we’re able to do so and I’m confident everyone will be very proud of the new Memorial Centre once it’s open,” he said.

Quinton said the council acknowledged the disruption to the local community and thanked people for their patience and understanding on behalf of the project team.

The project budget is estimated at $4.85M with substantial grants provided by Central Lakes Trust ($750,000) and the Otago Community Trust ($400,000) and $1M allocated from the Wānaka Asset Sale Reserve, a fund which originated with the proceeds of the sale of public land at Scurr Heights in 2016. 

IMAGE: Supplied