The strengthening and development work of the Municipal Building in Hastings has been given a significant boost, with two successful applications from the Lottery Grants Board.
In total, the project has been given $4.75 million, $4m from the Significant Project fund and $750 000 from the Environment and Heritage fund.
The Environment and Heritage fund money is specifically for earthquake strengthening, needed after an assessment in 2014 found the building had seismic capacity less than 34 per cent of current code requirements.
It was decided after significant consultation with the public, to strengthen and re-open the historic building, with strengthening work beginning at the beginning of 2017.
Council received over 3000 submissions at the time, with 80 per cent in favour of re-opening the buildings.