Rest home revamp begins

The building of a six-bed extension at Arbor House began this week with a sod-turning ceremony at the Greytown rest home.

Dr Rob Tuckett, Arbor House Trust Board chairman and SWDC representative on the board, said the new extension would also have a central sitting area, a small hairdressing area and a pergola at the back.

"A lot of thought, preparation and hard work has gone into making this happen," Dr Tuckett said.

Greytown District Trust Lands Trust had gifted the land to enable Arbor House Trust to secure a mortgage with the BNZ, he said, and Masterton construction company Rigg Zschokke had been granted the building contract.

"Our thanks to Clint Taylor of Cunning Plans, who has incorporated our requests into plans to meet the needs of future residents," he said. "It is an exciting time and a credit to Arbor House that they already have a room booked for when the extension is complete."

Dr Tuckett said the high level of bed occupancy at Arbor House and continual requests for beds, had shown there was a well-defined need to extend the facility. We will be well prepared to meet future demand."

Arbor House was a community trust and a charitable trust that was well-supported by the South Wairarapa community and families and friends of our residents, he said.

Dr Tuckett said the driveway also would be overhauled at the completion of the new extension.

"It will be a real treat to have more parking available. Thanks to all those who have kindly donated towards the new driveway which will be a huge improvement. It will certainly set Arbor House off."

Adrienne Staples, Mayor of South Wairarapa District Council, turned the first spadeful of dirt yesterday to mark the start of construction work.

Also at the ceremony were supporters "who have been most involved in successfully getting us to this highly significant point for Arbor House", Dr Tuckett said.