Rakaia Rec Centre ready for its roof

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

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.”