Vet practice to take over medical office

NEW HOME: The former Masterton Medical building which is to become home to a veterinary practice. PHOTO/FILE

Another Wairarapa veterinary practice is to have a new home with confirmation yesterday Chapel St Vets is moving into the Lincoln Rd premises formerly occupied by Masterton Medical.

Veterinarian Stuart Bruere said after 17 years at 209 Chapel St the business was in need of larger premises to cope with the increased services being offered to customers.

"Put simply, our existing facility has been stretched beyond capacity for the last year.

"We have been very fortunate to secure the lease of the site previously occupied by Masterton Medical," Mr Bruere said.

The medical rooms were purpose-built and home to 17 doctors but were badly damaged by a fire that ripped through the building in February last year causing the doctors to move out and relocate in a section of the old Masterton Hospital.

Mr Bruere said the Lincoln Rd premises were twice the size of the Chapel St site and a plan for the building was being looked at by an architect.

"All going well we expect to occupy the building later this year.

"The planned facility will be the equal of any veterinary business in New Zealand in terms of space and services offered," Mr Bruere said.

He said apart from the move Chapel Street Vets had "attracted a major and well respected veterinary provider as a significant shareholder of the business".

Details would be made public at a later date but Mr Bruere said the business would be "re-branded" to fit the profile of the new shareholder and the involvement of the shareholder would give the practice the ability to be a "one-stop" veterinary business.

"Our staff of 20 was notified of the business development last week and are extremely excited by the changes ahead," he said.

Developer David Borman bought the former medical practice earlier this year.

Mr Bruere said he had worked with Mr Borman when the Chapel St Veterinary Centre was built 17 years ago.

"We thank town and rural folk in this area for strongly supporting our business so that we have been able to plan this move with confidence."

The move follows the recent acquisition of Wairarapa Equine Services.

Late last week South Wairarapa Veterinary Services confirmed it was to expand into Masterton, taking up residence in the old Dave Anderson motorcycles building in Queen St.