Central Otago District Council property and facilities officer Christina Martin has recommended the Vincent Community Board fund the upgrade. The board will discuss the report at its meeting tomorrow. Concerns about the stage structure and equipment at the theatre were raised by the Alexandra Musical Society — the main user of the theatre — earlier this year and an initial site inspection confirmed serious safety concerns at the theatre. An engineering assessment was done by Wanaka firm Batchelar McDougall Consulting Ltd.
Its conclusions included that the over-stage grid and fly-floor (a rigging system) required full replacement; the dimmer mezzanine was unsafe and should be removed; the stage lift would require additional joists to the decking; handrail barriers and decking should be upgraded; and new beams would be required to support proposed lighting bars.
The engineering report said remedial building work would cost about $164,000 and a basic stage rigging system about another $70,000.
The community board report said the upgrade would be "a significant project" and proposed funding should be split evenly between council and external sources.
The next step would be to do a detailed design for the project ready for tender. Batchelar McDougall has quoted $15,000 for the design work.
It is proposed that Rob Peters, of Theatre Systems and Design Ltd, who provided the initial report, would continue working with the community board and Batchelar McDougall. Mr Peters has quoted $2430 for the completion of his work.
