Bishopdale centre open soon

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34120, 5 April 1976, Page 2

Bishopdale centre open soon

The Bishopdale Community Centre is almost completed, and the first rooms in the complex should be in use soon after Easter. The centre will be officially opened bv the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) on September 18. Members of the news i media were given a conducted tour of the centre on Thursday, accompanied by councillors and staff of the Waimairi County Council and renresentatives of the Bishopdale Communitv Centre Association, which has raised money for equipment and furnishings. The centre consists of offices, a librarv, creche, hall, and meeting room and an arts and crafts area. The contractors for the work are Williams Construction (Can(te r bury), Ltd. Two communitv services offices will he available free of charge at the centra to nersons wanting to use them The manager of the centre land assistant community act-1

. ivities officer of the Waimairi County Council (Mr P. J. O’Keefe) said they could be used as a legal advice bureau, for the local police constable, or by local members of Parliament. Upstairs is a reception area where a receptionist will be on duty from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. There are also toilets and showers, with special facilities for paraplegics. Two public health nurses servicing the Bishopdale area will have an office in the centre, and Mr O’Keefe also has his office there A 2650 set. ft multi-purpose hall will he available for clubs such as table tennis and yoga, which are ready to start. Bookings will also be taken for socials and weddings. Storage space is available for equinment owned by private clubs, which space can also be used as changing rooms by drama groups. A meeting room of 1520 sq. ft wil convert into three separate rooms by folding doors. This will be used for film evenings, and bv severa’ groups, such as scouts and rangers, for meetings. The

Technical Institute may also run courses there. The meeting room can also be used as a supper room if socials are being held in the hall. This and the nearby! kitchen are licensed to cater for 250. A single-storey building to! the rear of the main complex will be used as a creche and for youth activities. The creche, which wil! be open in the first week after Easter, will work from 9 a-in. to 3 p.m. It is hoped to develop a play area outside. In the evenings, it is hoped to run wrestling and judo clubs, and possibly coffee evenings, for young people. Facilities for darts, indoor bowls, and pool may also be installed. The Waimairi County: Council librarian (Miss H. MJ Tait) said it was honed to open with 15.000 volumes. A goal of two books per head of population being served was being worked on, which would ultimately lead to 30.000 hooks in the library ; ■Ordering of books had been! proceeding for the best part*!

lof a year, she said, and $5OOO to $6OOO worth had al ready been ordered. Part of the library area will be established into a senior citizens’ lounge. Books and papers specially suited to the elderly will be available. A branch librarian will be appointed soon. The chairman of the Waimairi County Council (Mr D. B Rich) said that the whole centre had cost more than $500,000. Of this. $292,000 had come from loan finance. $50,000 from the Ministry of Recreation and Sport, and $30,000 from the Lottery Board of Control. The rest had come from the council's reserve funds. The Bishopdale Community Centre Association was formed in 1969. Its treasurer (Mr R. H. Butler) said it acted as a catalyst between the council and the community. and raised money, and encouraged others to do so, for equipping and furnishing the community centre. Its goal of $lO,OOO had been [exceeded, although the> final ‘figure was not yet know'n.