Rakaia Rec Centre ready for its roof
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
There’s a big roof shout on the cards in Rakaia this week.
Project manager Mark Boag said the roof was set to go on this week for the $1.7 million-odd community-led recreation centre in the Rakaia Domain.
Construction began in January and was tracking along nicely with all the framework and roof trusses in place, Boag said.
“The roof goes on this week and then I imagine things will look like they are slowing down as they start on the inside.”
The Rakaia Recreation Centre is on target to be completed in July.
“We won’t be in it for the rugby season but it might be ready for the end-of-season function.”
The old Rakaia Rugby Club changing rooms and public toilets facility were demolished to make way for the modern fit-for-purpose community facility.
The new single-story building will have clubrooms, with a commercial kitchen and bar that can fit up to 150 people, and it is elevated so spectators can view games from the wrap-around, covered deck.
“Being raised up like that will be ideal for watching rugby or anything that’s going on.”
It also had six changing rooms and two separate shower blocks so they could easily accommodate men’s and women’s rugby, Boag said.
The building would be available for the local sports club to use, and for the wider community to hire, he said.
The council funded the $351,000 replacement public toilets, a prefabricated toilet block incorporated into the end of the centre, near the car park.
The project has been led by the Rakaia Rugby Club and a community that has been raising funds for a new facility in the Rakaia Domain for a decade.
With the building under construction, the club uses the neighbouring Rakai Bowls Club for its aftermatch functions and has some containers set up as temporary changing rooms and showers.
“They seem to work well although things might be different in the middle of winter, but it’s only for one season.”
Poll: Would you want an unconventional funeral?
Funerals can cost as much as $22,000 and the planning can be stressful especially at a time when loved ones are grieving. Some New Zealanders are re-imagining funerals by making their own coffin or having a relaxed ceremony at home. Would you want a less traditional funeral? Share your thoughts below.
Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.
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85.9% Yes
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12.5% No
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1.7% Other - I'll share below!
Celebrating Our Resident Authors On World Book Day
It was World Book Day on the 23rd of April, so what better time to celebrate some of our talented residents who have published books.
They range from children’s books, to poems, from non-fiction to a first novel - and all are proof that there is no age limit when it comes to creativity!
Click read more for the full story.
New hut revives historic Canterbury ski slope
By local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
A new hut being built at an old skifield aims to bring visitors back to Mt Potts in Canterbury for skiing.
Alpine Huts Limited is building an eight-bunk hut on Mt Potts in a bid to boost local ski tourism.
Alpine Huts director Tom Evatt hopes to have the hut ready for public use this winter.
“I’ve imagined it more for ski touring but it’s a hut at the end of the day and will be used by anyone who wants to head into the mountains for hunting, hiking, or skiing.”
Evatt was motivated by the demand created by similar alpine huts on Glenmore Station in the Cass Valley, out the back of Lake Tekapo.
“As ski touring’s popularity has grown the demand for accommodation has increased because it’s pretty hard-core winter camping.”
Mt Potts is an ideal location and viable as a backcountry ski area, Evatt said.
The Department of Conservation (DOC) approved a concession application in September last year for the hut and associated structures for accommodation at the Erewhon Park skifield on Mt Potts, which had been established in 1964, for recreational backcountry ski touring.
The site is listed as a ski area in DOC’s conservation management strategy and was used by a heli-skiing company until 2011.
However, it has been abandoned as a ski area.
In his application, Evatt stated it would be “uneconomic to open and operate a traditional skifield at Mt Potts”.
“There is an opportunity to reinvent Mt Potts as a backcountry ski area destination for ski touring and split boarding with minimal investment and infrastructure.”
Snow sports opportunities “are increasingly under threat due to the effects of climate change and the failing economics of existing club fields”.
“A fresh approach needs to be taken to continue to provide snow sport opportunities which is precautionary in so far as any infrastructure maybe ultimately be removed and is light in terms of its environmental footprint.”
He has been granted the lease for the construction of one permanent hut – a 19m2 structure with an additional 2.2m2 deck, as well as two seasonal temporary winter yurts, toilet facilities, and a storage shed.
The yurts will be erected on permanent timber decks in the autumn for the winter and removed in the spring.
The storage shed will house the temporary accommodation in the summer, as well as firewood and hut supplies.
The accommodation is for public use and will use a website, also under construction, for online bookings and paying the hut fee, Evatt said.
There is an existing access road which allows people to access the area on foot or using e-bikes, or people can be lifted in by helicopter, he said.
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