A group of Foxton residents determined to save the town's War Memorial Hall are setting up an incorporated society to manage it and ensure it remains available for future generations.
They intend to ask Horowhenua District Council to financially support them to the tune of $10,000 for the next six years and sought support from the Foxton Community Board this week.
"If council does not support this, you set us up to fail," said Nola Fox on behalf of fellow submitters Karen Adams, Trevor Chambers, David Roache, Ngaore Newland, Tony Robinson, Brett Russell, Sue-Ann Russell and Basil Vertongen.
Proponents of the new society-to-be attended this week's extraordinary meeting of the Foxton Community Board, successfully convincing the board to support their application for the handover of the hall to the incorporated society for $1, an item in the Long Term Plan.
Three community board members had to step down from the discussion and voting as they were also members of the group starting the incorporated society: David Roache, Ngaire Newland and Trevor Chambers.
The fact that the Foxton Hall is a war memorial hall played significantly on the minds of those trying to save it, though the council some time ago voted to dispose of it due to lack of use and the need to improve strengthening.
Brett Russell argued that other halls in the district, such as Opiki and Shannon, are run successfully under local management.
"Our proposal is a stake in the ground. We believe there is plenty of demand for the hall, provided the rates are reasonable. The memory of those locals who died in wars must also be preserved."
Cr David Allan wanted to know how robust their research was regarding earthquake strengthening, saying: "This is the big issue." The answer was more research would be needed.
The society plans to run the hall as a community centre, with an income stream generated by the suite of offices at the back of the building, which are quite separate from the actual hall.
Local organisations are looking for space, such as the budgeting service, and many groups are looking for somewhere to hold such activities as dance and yoga classes. The closing of the RSA makes this need more urgent, they said. Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom was seen as unsuitable for dance classes and similar activities.
Once established, the incorporated society can decide to operate within the hall, despite perceived earthquake risk, at people's own risk, council chief executive David Clapperton clarified.
Foxton's War Memorial Hall has a suite of modern offices, separate from the hall, accessed through these doors.
"Council won't use the hall for any of its activities or meetings, but others can. There will be MBIE guidelines for the earthquake strengthening but they do not see this as a priority, so there will be 15 years to achieve this."
Nola Fox said she had 30 years of experience in governance and believed the hall can be self-sustaining in six years, but she admitted there is no plan B. The proposal hinges on council willingness to allocate $60,000 over six years.
It is envisioned someone will be paid to handle the hall bookings, but the rest will be done by volunteers and a committee.
"We chose an incorporated society above a trust as an incorporated society elects its board or committee from its members at a public meeting.
"A trust is closed, with no accountability to the public."
She denied that an incorporated society will find it harder to procure funding than trusts. The budget presented equals that of HDC when it was running the hall, she said.
"Depending on the wording of the constitution donations to the society will be tax-deductible," Fox said. The society is not yet registered.
The Foxton Community Board voted to support the submission to the long-term plan and will in its own submission add the War Memorial Hall proposal as well as a separate proposal regarding the financing asked for.
Cr David Allan told the group it will be a tough submission: "You have a big threshold to negotiate and the questions from councillors will be tough, but my respects to your efforts to save the hall."
