THE final hurdle to ensuring the refurbishment of Greytown's 98-year-old town hall has been cleared with news that a lottery grant for $267,540 has been approved. Former South Wairarapa mayor John Read, who is dealing with financial arrangements for the refurbishment on behalf of a hall restoration committee, said yesterday theamount in kitty means the project can definitely go ahead. It is expected tenders will be called after Christmas, once final details of contracts to be let are tidied up and it is hoped work will start early next year. Mr Read said the refurbishment ? which includes shifting the town's public library into the hall ? would be finished by the end of next year in time for the old hall to celebrate its centenary "This is absolutely magnificent news that lets us get to a situation were we can go to the next stage." He said the lottery grant took available funds beyond the $1.5 million needed for the hall but that, as with all building projects, initial estimates were only "indicative amounts". "The likely true costs will only be known once we go to tender." South Wairarapa District Council and Greytown Trust Lands Trust have bankrolled the project, each contributing $500,000. Wairarapa Building Society has staked $200,000, Eastern and Central $100,000 and other contributions have come from Trust House, South Wairarapa Rotary and Prime Trust and members of the public.
