Business South November 2021

| 15 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Clutha Community Hub The beating heart of the community T T Russell Fredric Construction of Clutha Community Hub has begun. It will also incorporate the district’s i-SITE and Clutha District Council Service Centre in the main atrium space. OCTA.CO.NZ AUCKLAND | HAMILTON | WELLINGTON | CHRISTCHURCH | DUNEDIN “Independent project specialists since 1973” A twenty year vision to establish a modern, multi-purpose ‘heart of the community’ facility in Clutha is coming to fruition. Construction of Clutha Community Hub has begun following a planning process that started with initial investigations to assess the long-term viability of the Balclutha War Memo- rial Hall in the late 1990’s. Clutha Community Hub Charitable Trust (CCHCT) chair Dale Anderson says Clutha Dis - trict Council subsequently sought feedback in 2016 from ratepayers and stakeholders about what they saw as the highest priorities in the district. “Out of that the redevelopment of the war memorial hall came at number two on the list; a steering group was formed from that.” This resulted in initiating a feasibility study and a developing a business case from engagement with user groups, companies, non-government organisations and the wider community to understand the shortcomings of existing facilities in the district, both on a community and commercial level. Among the shortcomings identified was a lack of conference and event facilities for larger groups, plus a lack of smaller meeting, conference and transitional work spaces. CCHCT engaged project manager Octa to undertake the feasibility study, with Lottery funding, to assess the option of retaining and upgrading or redeveloping the war memorial hall or starting with a clean sheet. Funding the $20 million project compris - es $7.5 million from the council’s long-term plan and $7 million from the Government’s post-covid shovel ready fund. The first-stage base build cost is $11 million, with the balance of funding for the interior fit- out currently in the process of being secured. The shovel-ready grant has been a huge boost. “It fantastic really. It was going to be a big ask to hit that level of funding from essentially 16,000 ratepayers,” Dale says. Designed by Kieran Cooper Architecture, construction was recently started by the main contractor, Calder Stewart. The impact and reach of Clutha Community Hub will be significant. “Twenty million dollars is a pretty lofty goal but in reality there will be a demand for the functionality it’s going to provide and it’s not [only] about the building either. As far the trust is concerned in getting this off the ground, it’s the additional benefits it will bring to the district.” The hub will provide for cultural, commu - nity, theatrical, and business purposes and to meet the requirements of existing user groups. It will also incorporate the district’s i-SITE and Clutha District Council Service Centre in the main atrium space, plus five tenantable commercial or office spaces. Its design will meet the requirements of New Zealand’s leading regional programmes such as the Royal New Zealand Ballet. The provision of commercial spaces will be an important aspect of the hub and the wider vision to have a modern co-working facility where business people and start-ups can col - laborate and get support within the district. “It’s not really just the space, we are aiming to introduce a new style of working into the district and alongside that we are looking to bring in programmes with the support of partners such as Innov8HQ in Dunedin to inspire youth and help drive new businesses in the district.”