Construction begins

9/07/09

Last week Ashburton District Council mayor, Bede O’Malley ceremonially started construction on the first stage of the project to refurbish the Mt Hutt Memorial Hall.

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Last week Ashburton District Council mayor, Bede O’Malley ceremonially started construction on the first stage of the project to refurbish the Mt Hutt Memorial Hall.

In brilliant sunshine after an overnight snowfall a large number of Methven people and guests from out of town watched as Te Hurunui Clark of Hakatere Marae delivered a karakia. Tipene Philips, also from Hakatere Marae and who teaches at Mt Hutt College then led a group of college students in a wiata.

The mayor then ceremonially turned the soil and congratulated Methven on getting the project to this stage. Everyone then retired to enjoy the final function to be held in the hall, a morning tea that lived up to Methven’s reputation of hospitality.

Bradfords Building Services of Ashburton have been awarded the contract and work on the site started this week. Graham Robertson, chairman of the project board there was strong competition among the tendering contractors with very competitive pricing. “We were thrilled that the successful tender was from Bradfords. They have a fine reputation as quality builders and the use of a local firm is good for the district” he said.

The first stage of the project will be the re-furbishment of the Memorial Hall, the relocation of the main entrance of the hall to the Main Street frontage and the construction of the wing to house the Methven i-SITE Visitor Centre.

This stage is to be completed by February to enable the hall to be used in conjunction with the world ploughing championships to be staged in Methven in April next year.

Many thanks to the Snowfed for the content of this article.

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Along with an extensive upgrade of the auditorium and function rooms, the project will see the creation of a new purpose built attraction, 'Alpine and Agriculture Encounter', New Zealand's first interactive exhibition of snow-sports history and culture, and an agricultural education centre.

The Centre will also house a 'Hall of Memories', a cinema, Methven i-Site, conference facilities, gallery space and café.

For more information on the project, visit: www.methvenheritagecentre.co.nz