Contractors will begin work on the long-anticipated Luggate Memorial Centre today (Monday May 31).

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has appointed Breen Construction as the main contractor for the construction of the new centre, which will replace the original Luggate Hall which was decommissioned in 2017 after it failed a seismic assessment.

QLDC property director Richard Pope said the contract meant construction of the building, set to be the country’s first community facility built to passive house standards, could now get underway.

“The new memorial centre will be a focal point for the local community, and an attractive venue for events that will be enjoyed by people across the district,” Richard said. 

The building period is expected to take nine months.

Richard said he was delighted to have signed the contract with Breen Construction, which has “extensive experience throughout the district, including with public buildings”. 

Their projects include the Wanaka Watersports Facility, among others.

Richard said the most visible activity as work commences on the new centre will be the retrieval of material from the old Luggate hall.

Construction for the centre will be based on a panelised construction method, with panels fabricated at Hector Egger’s new Cromwell factory, he said.

The passive house method (a standard for energy efficiency which reduces the building's ecological footprint) was chosen for the build as it will future proof the centre and address key issues of sustainability and cost effectiveness 

Richard thanked The Building Intelligence Group, Rider Levett Bucknall, WSP, Salmond Architecture and Hiberna for their “continued efforts” in delivering the community asset.

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 Wanaka Asset Sale Reserve, a fund which originated with the proceeds of the sale of public land at Scurr Heights in 2016. 

The public toilets on the corner of Hopkins St and SH6 will be closed for the duration of the demolition works due to their proximity to the old hall but alternative toilets will be provided, QLDC said.

IMAGE: Supplied