In November last year a new community building was announced by the Raglan Community Arts Council. A Waikato District Council planning error has seen construction of the building delayed. Council planners had zoned the Raglan Old School reserve as a living zone instead of zoned for community use. This Council error meant that the Raglan Arts Council had to pay Opus International Consultants to process a resource consent for the new building which will be built behind the Old School. Arts Council Chair, Rodger Gallagher thanked Raglan Councillor, Clint Baddeley for shepherding the consent through the Waikato District Council roadblocks. Rodger said, “The Council error has delayed a much needed community building by many months and added thousands of dollars to the costs. It is ironic that the District Council which declined when asked to make a small cash contribution to the building, went on with their actions to add several thousand dollars to the cost of the building. It is great that now all the paperwork is complete we are able to proceed with construction.”
Local Raglan builder, D & L Shilton has been selected by the Arts Council from a short list of local builders who quoted for the project last year. David Shilton said he plans to commence construction in late May. The building will be completed in a few months time.
Fund raising by the Arts Council and generous grants from the St Lazarus Trust, Raglan Lions Club, the NZ Lottery Grants Board and the Logan Campbell Estate have allowed construction of the new building. Thanks also go to the Raglan Community Board and Waikato District Council for approving the 25 year lease at the present peppercorn rental. The addition will see much needed new amenities provided at the Old School Arts Centre, including an upgraded kitchen and catering facilities, a ‘wet art’ room for activities involving painting and dyeing etc, and more storage.
There has been extensive consultation with the Historic Places Trust to ensure that the new building fits in with the Old School, a heritage building, and excavation work will be supervised by an archaeologist. Ngati Mahanga have also been consulted about the new building and a kaumatua will bless the site before construction commences.