Gemco Construction has been announced as the successful tenderer for the earthquake strengthening of the Hawke's Bay Opera House.
The locally-based building company will prepare a detailed construction plan. If that proves acceptable to Council, construction is expected to start in August and take about 18 months.
That announcement signals the start of further consultation on the future of the neighbouring Municipal Buildings, as promised by Hastings District Council at the time of last year's public consultation on the future of both buildings and a wider plan for the cultural centre of the district.
During the past 12 months, council staff have continued to have conversations with art and cultural groups about the Municipal Building. The range of people involved in those discussions will now broaden out to a point where a public consultation will be held, expected to be before the end of this year.
That part of the project is being co-ordinated by the Municipal Buildings Working Group, chaired by Hastings Community Arts Centre manager Pitsch Leiser, reporting back to the Council subcommittee running the opera house and Municipal Buildings projects.
