Timing for the build of the new Luggate Hall has slipped back somewhat.

The construction of the hall, due to start this year, will now not begin until the end of February 2021, according to Graham Perkins, Chairman of the Luggate Community Association.

Basically, the whole thing has slipped back because of Covid, he said.

“Richard Pope of APL which is a division of the Council has advised us that the hall is being pre-made down in Cromwell and will then be brought onto the site,” Perkin said.

Pope told the Community Association: “We currently have the request for proposal out with prospective contractors for the main build (to put the building together on site) and have just lodged for the building consent. The requests for the proposal are to close towards the end of January when we will be appointing the main contractor at a similar timing for the building consent. If this all goes to plan construction will be starting late February.

Council’s Request for Proposals for a main construction contractor is open until mid-January and we’re looking forward to construction starting soon after the appointment is made in February. People can track progress of this milestone Passive House project on the major projects page on our website,” Pope said.

“We are looking forward to it,” said Perkins

“We have started a special fund for it already because when it gets built it will just be the shell and we are going to have to outfit the inside. The latest fundraiser was a market that the Luggate Pub ran last weekend and the proceeds of this will go towards our Luggate Community Fund.

“We have accumulated money over the last three years we have been waiting for the new hall.

“It’s a slow process, but we are going to get a hall.”

Read edition 1005 of the Wānaka Sun here.