There are now half a million more good reasons to get building the new Waipu Celtic Barn and finish refurbishing the Caledonian hall.
A $515,720 grant towards the project - final renovations on the Caledonian Hall and construction of a multi-activity Celtic barn behind the hall - was presented to Waipu Joint Venture (WJV) by the Lotteries Commission this month.
WJV spokesman Richie Guy, perhaps better known from his time in an All Black jersey, says the cost of the entire project is $1,550,000 (including cost escalations estimate of $70,000).
But it's money well spent, Mr Guy says. "The existing hall is the most utilised in Whangarei. It hasn't been renovated in 30 years."
Funding has also been received from the Whangarei District Council ($600,000), The Caledonian Society ($100,000) and from pledges ($300,000), resulting in a shortfall of $150,000, which WJV now have the task of fundraising.
The plans for this project came about after the Caledonian Hall committee floated the idea of upgrading the toilets about 18 months ago.
"It needed a bit more than the toilets," Mr Guy said. "It generally needed an upgrade."
So last year the Waipu Business Association held a public meeting and organised a committee.
"We had the option of knocking down the hall, but smaller groups [using the hall] don't want a great big space," Mr Guy said. "We determined the best course of action was to refurbish the hall and build an extra barn [behind it]."
Renovations of the kitchens, bar areas and toilets were completed last November. Next is installing extractor fans in the roof and heat pumps, and modernising the decor.
The new barn is going to be a larger facility for multiple uses such as indoor sports, school prizegivings and the Highland Games.
Mr Guys says WJV is "in the throes of getting plans done".
"We envisage starting [construction of the barn] immediately after New Year's, as soon as the games are over, so we've got to raise the $150,000 by then."
Once the barn is built and hall refurbished, funds will still be needed for fixtures, he said.
"We're going to organise a 'Buy a chair' campaign so people with lesser budgets can help. There are two good things about that: One, they contribute, and two, they feel as if they own a piece of it," he said.