THE MARTINBOROUGH COMMUNITY CENTRE Project Update

Creating a Community Hub

The proposed Community Centre project aims to unite many of Martinborough’s essential services, so what will the new centre look like?

At the heart of the development will be the strengthened and upgraded Town Hall, including a new foyer area, meeting rooms, a warm and inviting new supper room and kitchen area and improved auditorium space.

The i-SITE Visitor Centre will be positioned at the entrance of the new Community Centre complex. This purpose built visitor centre will showcase the Wairarapa and provide locals and visitors with a booking service for travel product throughout New Zealand.

The additional parking, modern toilets, a coffee kiosk and positioning directly on the Martinborough Square will be excellent improvements to the existing i-SITE facilities.

Housed in the same building will be the new Library. With our current library bursting at the seams, owing to a vibrant weekly program and the great range of books and services on offer, our librarians can look forward to moving into a much larger, purpose built facility at the new centre.

Martinborough Toy Library and Martinborough Plunket are two child and family services which will relocate from current premises to the new building. Both will occupy spaces tailored for them by the architectural team and both organisations are looking to benefit from being part of a remodelled town hall where meetings, playgroups and educational seminars can be held.

Adjacent to the centre a bold and unique park and playground and flexible outdoor event space is planned to attract visitors to the town and enhance already popular events such as Toast Martinborough and the Jazz and Olive Festivals.

Landscaping and careful urban design are being used to link the new centre with the Town Square to ensure an accessible, pedestrian and cycle friendly precinct.

This is a once in a life time opportunity to create a truly special Town Centre which reflects the heart of our historic town and heralds new possibilities for the future.

People have asked: “Why don’t you just pull down the hall and start again?”

There are many reasons to keep the existing hall and add a purpose designed Community Centre extension. Here are the top 5 reasons as identified during the detailed SGL feasibility study.

1. It is cheaper to strengthen the existing Town Hall than to build a new, equivalent performance space.
2. Previous public consultation has shown strong support for keeping the current building.
3. The hall has significant heritage value which can’t be replaced.
4. Once renovated the auditorium, with its excellent acoustic qualitites will provide a dedicated performance space to support arts and culture in the South Wairarapa.
5. The hall provides an important, and much loved, space for local weddings, funerals, celebrations and community gatherings.

The Martinborough Community Centre Communications Team

Thank you to our generous supporters
Ata Rangi, David & Winifred Bull, Tom & Di Bunny, Jim Clark & Michael Honey, Paul & Rosie Collins, Cotter & Stevens Ltd, John & Trish Donald, Draper Land Co Ltd, Roger Gaskill & Julie-Claire Baxter, Peter & Ruth Graham, Catherine & Marco de Groot, Ro & Lyle Griffiths, Gerald Hensley, Michael Lamont & Bev O’Keefe, Robin Lockie, Tim & Leslie Lusk, John & Di Martin, Tim Martin & Victoria Read, The Martinborough Star, Martinborough Community Board, Andy & Bridg Mathewson, MTH Centenary Ball Committee, Helen & John Meehan, Murdoch James, Pain Estate, Pain & Kershaw Ltd, Patuna Farm, Poppies Martinborough, Richard Riddiford, Hamish & Sue Sims, Mary Smith & Family, Max & Liz Stevens Family, Graeme Thompson & Chris Cassels, Thunderpants Ltd, The Tora Coastal Walk, Gary Wall, Felicity & Arthur Warren, Weatherstone Family Rotopai Farms, Pam & Garry Wells, Wood Family Paharakeke.

If you would like to join our supporters and make a pledge to the Martinborough Community Centre Fund please contact Max Stevens – 3069095 or Victoria Read – 3068570.

What’s Next
We are expecting to appoint the architects this month, so watch this space for updated concept designs.

Contacts
Funding and general enquiries?
Max Stevens 3069095 or Victoria Read 3068570

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