2/05/2018

Council has given the greenlight to proceed with a $3.6 million upgrade of the Lawson Field Theatre.

The chief executive will negotiate a contract with local company Currie Construction to carry out the earthquake strengthening and upgrade work.

Council previously committed to fund $1.1 million of the upgrade and is working with the War Memorial Theatre Trust to raise the rest from external grants and fundraising.

The Future Tairawhiti committee approved a preliminary design in September last year.

Since then more detailed designs have been developed, a tendering process undertaken along with an independent risk assessment to get more certainty on the project costs.

Funds totalling $2.167m have been committed from the Lottery Community Facilities Fund, Regional Culture and Heritage Fund, Eastland Community Trust and New Zealand Community Trust.

“The War Memorial Theatre Trust is delighted that the project is now confirmed and very grateful for the support of our community towards the fundraising for the redevelopment of the Lawson Field Theatre,” said trust chair Pat Seymour.

“The trust gratefully received the donation of $1 million dollars from ECT and that is a substantial boost to the project. This indicates ECT is supportive of the many groups and private individuals who use the Lawson Field Theatre as it suits the size and scale of their needs.

“Speech competitions, art exhibitions and craft displays, meetings and conferences, weddings and family birthdays are all events our community use the theatre for, alongside the theatre groups.”

Currie Construction completed the rebuild of the War Memorial Theatre on time and within budget and the WMTT was pleased they had tendered on the Lawson Field Theatre project.

The trust has $1.244 million on hand and is committed to raise the full $1.5 million towards this project.

“We have further applications out with the philanthropic sector. So far, some 75 seats have been ‘sold’ - a donation of $200 secures the donors name on a set plaque,” Mrs Seymour said.

Council’s building team issued a notice to repair the theatre to meet seismic structural standards, which took effect in October 2016. It remains closed until the work is completed.

Construction is likely to begin in July and estimated to take 13 months to complete.

ENDS

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