Community halls or hubs of financial stress?

Community halls are vital local hubs, but if Waikato district ratepayers want them maintained to a standard, they may soon need additional targeted rates. 

Waikato District Council is working on its Long-Term Plan for 2025-2034, and the community’s feedback will help decide where rates and investment should be focused over the next nine years. 

The Council owns 33 community halls in the district, which often serve small rural communities. Waikato District Council General Manager Service Delivery Megan May says these halls are managed either by local committees or Council, and funding comes from a targeted rate paid by properties within their catchment area. 

“Although local committees work in partnership with Council, they’re usually run by community volunteers,” Megan explains.  

“Each committee takes care of the hall's day-to-day operations, such as handling bookings, managing repairs, and keeping the hall in good condition.” 

The Eureka Hall, built in the late 1960s, needs significant maintenance. The targeted rate for the hall has not been increased since 2015, and the committee has proposed to the Council to raise it from $35 to $50 or $60 per year. Megan says the Council wants to know if the local community supports this proposal. 

The Ruawaro Hall near Huntly has been closed since April 2023 after a seismic assessment revealed it didn't meet the minimum safety standards. Since then, the hall committee has disbanded, and the funds collected for the hall are being held until a decision is made about its future. 

Additional reports, including an asbestos survey, roof condition report, and geotechnical assessment, show that significant investment is needed to restore the hall to a usable state.  

“We’re seeking feedback from the community on what should be done next. In this case, we’re wanting to hear if the community thinks we should repair or demolish the hall. Whether we demolish it, build a new community hub, use the land for another community purpose, or sell the site, are all options we’re putting to the community. Please bear in mind if we were to build a new community hub, it would need to be funded through a targeted rate or local fundraising,” says Megan. 

A public meeting will be held at 5pm on 10 October 2024 at Ruawaro School Library to discuss the current state of Ruawaro Hall, its future, and the potential impact on the targeted rate. 

Over in Huntly, it’s the future of the Huntly War Memorial Hall is another facility that’s experiencing increased operational costs. 

In 2016, the local community requested that Huntly War Memorial Hall undergo refurbishment, and a group of community members formed a committee. Since then, the hall has been fully renovated and open to the public for use.  

A $8 targeted rate was introduced to help cover the ongoing maintenance and management of the hall. However, after a year and a half of operation at this rate, additional funding is needed to maintain the facility to its current standard. That targeted rate could increase to $25 from July 2025. 

“Our priority is to keep things running smoothly while keeping costs down. To do this, we must prioritise our projects, services, and activities carefully – we simply can’t afford to do everything,” says Megan. 

“All feedback is valuable and will guide the Council on how much to invest in various services, projects, and activities, including the halls, and other services like roading, waste and library services.”  

Waikato district residents and hall users can share their thoughts by completing an online survey on the Council’s website at shape.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/long-term-plan-engagement by 20 October 2024. 

ENDS