Ophir Hall Photo: James JUBB
Town halls are often the centre of community life, and in Central Otago, these historic buildings are a tourist attraction. But with a council plan to save money by getting more than 20 off the books, locals worry for the loss of both.
At the heart of the little Central Otago settlement of Ophir is the 99-year-old Peace Memorial Hall, home of the annual potato dig function, live music gigs and weddings.
A local hall committee recently upgraded the toilets and added some kitchen facilities.
But Central Otago District Council wants the hall and more than 20 other old buildings off its books, because they are too expensive to run.
It estimates they will cost around $15 million in the next nine years, millions of which is earthquake strengthening expenses.
In its long term plan for 2025-2034 it proposes divesting the buildings, including old police and railway stations. That could mean selling a building for $1 to the local community, selling to a private buyer, handing the property back to the Crown, or the building could be demolished and retained for potential redevelopment.
Locals fear the council's plan threatens their last links to the past and could rip the heart out of their communities.
Heritage campaigner Jo Galer says Ophir residents who have put so much into rejuvenating the old mining town are horrified that their hall is up for "potential loss".
"It has brought tourists into the town, cyclists on the Rail Trail. We've had more and more cribbees buying houses here, we've managed to retain the local pool there," says Galer.
She says the hall is the heart of many small settlements which depend on tourists for income and new residents to bring in more rates.
"If they are looking to save money by getting rid of buildings that could be demolished, then that's not the way to go. That's a foolhardy path to take."
Wedderburn farmer and councillor Stu Duncan says the proposal to divest the buildings has upset a lot of people. He's warning the council not to "pull the trigger" too soon.
Wedderburn farmer and councillor Stu Duncan standing in front of the 99-year-old Wedderburn Hall Photo: Supplied
"People are passionate because their parents or grandparents have put money into it out of their own pockets, raised funds, borrowed money and paid it off for locals to have their own hall.
But times have also changed and people travel further for entertainment and social events that in the past were held in the local halls.
Also, he says, low population growth in the Maniototo area where he lives means there is less need for the buildings.
"In saying that, there's a lot of growth happening [in other parts of Central Otago]. So are we pulling the trigger too early in some cases and maybe missing out for the cost of earthquaking them?"
Duncan says the divestment proposal costs out earthquake strengthening at nearly $6 million, but possible future law changes could mean the work won't be needed or may not be as extensive.
"I'm one of the ones standing up saying, don't be in a rush to do this because once you start taking feeling out of the community in the buildings like that, that mean something or are iconic, you never get them back."
He says it is a test of communities' commitment to preserving their old halls and churches. They need to decide whether they should fight to keep them.
"Some may be turned into restaurants or cafes, some may be beneficial to the community but lets have that conversation first and don't go too fast because the real risk is that once you have released them out of the community you won't put them back at the same cost."
Duncan tells The Detail that his own community is one of the few that wants to take advantage of the divestment plan and buy the 99-year-old Wedderburn Hall for $1.
The council estimates the hall will cost more than $500,000 in earthquake and operational expenses over the next nine years. Duncan says the community can run it for much less and build up the usage.
"There's a lot of new people come there, a lot of young mums, some of them using it for morning teas. You have the likes of young farmers balls and there's been a few funerals there.
"And because the Rail Trail is right there you can have fetes out there at Easter, there's a lot of artists and poets around Central Otago now. We're looking at opportunities of putting artwork in there and people can pay and come and have a look."
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