A rural West Otago hall seems set for demolition unless an 11th-hour alternative can be found.
Dunrobin Hall, about 20km north of Tapanui, was suffering from long-standing disuse and disrepair, acting hall committee president Peter Adam said.
If a final vote at a public meeting this Tuesday was in favour, the 65-year-old facility would be demolished as a practical measure to save money, and a smaller shelter erected in its place.
''There's money in the kitty to [repair] it, but no-one uses it now, which is the real shame of it. It's probably used twice a year if you're lucky, and as you can see, it needs a new roof, just for starters.
''You could repair it, but with Heriot [hall] 10 minutes over the hill, is anyone still going to use it? The community needs to come to a decision.''
A recent meeting attended by eight community members favoured a demolition, he said.
The funds in hand could then be used to build a smaller, easier to maintain facility for future use.
''There's the cricket pitch next door, and a need for something still in the community but, at this stage, something like a two-bay shed with toilets might be a better fit.''
The hall's war honour rolls and other memorabilia would be removed and preserved during any change, he said.
''People have had so many good nights here, at New Year's and birthdays, and so on. It's just a sign of the times as rural communities shrink and can't sustain these big facilities.''
Public input was still welcomed, he said.
''We're having a final meeting to hear people's ideas. That's what we really want.''
The meeting would take place at the hall at 7.30pm, on Tuesday, October 1.
