Centre open in March

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34046, 9 January 1976, Page 2

Centre open in March

Although finishing touches are now being applied to the Bishopdale community centre, the building is not expected to be open for about two months. The centre was supposed Ito be finished by the end lof September. The delay cannot be blamed on the contractors. for the Waimairi County Council first modified fits plans to cut expenditure, then found more money and . reinstated work that had been cut out. plus additions.

This upset the planning of! the construction. Delays are now occurring with tFie?, * supply of some of the equip- ■ ment needed bv sub-* contractors who now. with;! the shell finished, are chiefly'l concerned with the installs-(] ition of the ventilation andj, electrical heating system. , The linings are finished 'save for the ceilings, left open for fitting the services. De- 1 mountable partitions have i been installed to mark out Ithe first-floor rooms. The big job of laying the*' floor coverings and putting* •in fittings will start soon.. Some of the fittings have already been made off-site. Landscaping work will be* ileft until near the Completion!

of construction, but the Housing Corporation has let a tender for the laying out of a new car-park to replace the old parking space absorbed by the centre. Mr K. O’Keefe has been appointed manager of the centre, and will take up his duties on February 2. Tenancies are being negotiated by the council with the many local groups that want Ito use the centre.