Future of Community House hangs in the balance

FILE

A potential multi-million dollar bill for undertaking large scale repairs of Community House has resulted in Rotorua Lakes Council reviewing the building's long-term future.

The three storey building in Haupapa St, between the library and i-SITE, was constructed more than 50 years ago for Government Life Insurance. It was purchased by the council in 1993 to provide affordable accommodation for local volunteer and community organisations, and continues to be used for that purpose.

However a recent comprehensive structural and maintenance survey of the building has identified the need for major repair works.

The work would require removal of the entire roof structure because of prolonged leaking which has caused water damage. The building's exterior cladding is also damaged and would need to be removed and replaced. The plumbing system requires upgrading and the lift replaced, while the roof sheeting, internal stairwell, floor tiles, passageways and public toilets all contain asbestos which would have to be removed.

Repair work is estimated to cost at least $2.4 million.

Because of the high repair costs the council is considering four options for the building's future. These are to undertake a complete repair and renewal programme, to sell the property, demolish the building, or simply maintain it at current minimal maintenance levels to keep it functioning.

Rotorua Lakes Council's Strategy & Partnerships group manager, Jean-Paul Gaston, said the council was working through all options and assessing the implications for each possible course of action.

"At this stage either repair or demolition seem to be the most practical of the options. But the council has yet to make any decision as this will be done as part of the 2015-2025 Long-term Plan which is currently being drafted ahead of public consultation.

" In the meantime we're working with the various organisations who currently rent space in Community House and they've been made aware of the options under consideration for the building. They understand that they would need to relocate to temporary premises for something like nine months or so if it was decided to undertake repair work, or find permanent alternative accommodation if either the sale or demolition options were pursued.

"However we've given the current tenants an undertaking that we'll continue to work alongside them and support them with finding alternative accommodation - and in fact we already have some other premises available in the inner city that are being looked at.

"At present most of these community organisations enjoy below-market rental rates that are effectively subsidised by the council. We've told them we would look at continuing to provide some rental subsidies if at some point in the future they had to move to new premises where higher market rentals applied," Mr Gaston said.

The council was expected to identify a preferred position on the future of Community House over coming weeks and to include that preference in the public consultation document for the 2015-2025 Long-term Plan.

For the full story, read tomorrow's Rotorua Daily Post.