The concrete floor of the Celtic Barn being built in Waipu's Caledonian Park was poured in the same community spirit that will wrap around the project until finished.
The slab took 17 trucks of concrete in a job that ran like clockwork, starting at 6.45am and finishing by mid-morning on Saturday. Possibly another 30 truckloads of concrete will be needed when the pre-cast concrete walls go up, the perimeter of the building is concreted and the adjoining kitchen floor laid, said Mark Royals of Bream Bay Concrete.
Richie Guy, chairman of Waipu Joint Venture, the group behind the hall project, said he had no doubt the community and businesses supporting the $1.5million build would get it done and dusted in time for the next Highland Games. "Obviously we have to have it ready for the games on New Year's Day 2015. There have been some minor hold-ups but nothing that has really set us back," Mr Guy said. Preparation of the site had included digging peat out of the ground to a depth of up to 1.5m and refilling it with metal, he said.
The multi-activity "barn" beside the Caledonian Hall will be used separately and in conjunction with the well-used Waipu Hall, which will also undergo some improvements. Mr Guy said that when what started as a plan to refurbish the hall grew into the ambitious Celtic Barn project there were concerns about its cost and scale. But the community got behind the project and had so far raised well over $500,000, a figure he expected would end up topping $800,000. "Waipu is a great place. If communities want something done, they get stuck in and make it happen and that's what's happening here."
As well as individuals' contributions, local businesses had been generous. For example, Bream Bay Concrete had contributed more than $11,000 worth of concrete and time, and Jenkins Construction's more than $20,000 worth of machinery and work, Mr Guy said.
The project had scored a $515,000 Lotto grant, $600,000 from the Whangarei District Council and was awaiting the outcome of an application to the ASB Trust for $250,000.