Repairs to the Clive Community Hall, which was gutted by fire last October, should be complete in the next six weeks, rebuild supervisor Dave Crozier says.
The community-owned hall has been out of use since the fire, which started after a local man left the food he was preparing for his
daughter's 21st party unattended while he went home to get some tongs. He returned to see flames leaping from the windows of the historic hall on Clive's Main Rd.
Damage to the building was largely isolated to the foyer, but the main hall also suffered fire and smoke damage.
Mr Crozier said repairs were mostly in keeping with the original design but a few small changes and improvements had been made. "We have put in a suspended ceiling which should stop the room echoing and also looks very nice. Some of the sliding doors have been replaced with opening doors and some of the wooden-framed windows at the front of the hall have been replaced with aluminium."
Other adjustments are improved wheelchair access and a unisex, disabled toilet.
"We are just putting the finishing timbers in place this week and then we will be ready to paint."
Periodic detention workers who painted the Clive Hall in 2007 have offered to come back and help. "It's really great to have that support, they did a really good job last time."
The Clive community really got in behind the rebuild project with people helping to clear out the hall after the fire. Local business Clive Glass also donated and installed glass to all windows, which were smashed in the fire.
