He said the work would require removal of the entire roof structure because prolonged leaking had caused water damage. The building's exterior cladding is also damaged and would need to be removed and replaced. The plumbing system requires upgrading and the lift replaced, while the roof sheeting, internal stairwell, floor tiles, passageways and public toilets all contain asbestos which would have to be removed.
"At this stage either repair or demolition seem to be the most practical of the options. But the council has yet to make any decision as this will be done as part of the 2015-2025 Long-term Plan which is currently being drafted ahead of public consultation," Mr Gaston said.
"In the meantime we're working with the various organisations who currently rent space in Community House.
"They understand that they would need to relocate to temporary premises for something like nine months or so if it was decided to undertake repair work, or find permanent alternative accommodation if either the sale or demolition options were pursued."
Mr Gaston said the council would support groups in finding alternative accommodation and would look at continuing to provide rental subsidies if some groups had to move.
"At present most of these community organisations enjoy below-market rental rates that are effectively subsidised by the council," he said.
Two long-term tenants of the building - Citizens Advice Bureau and Rotorua Budget Advisory Service - said they were happy with the council's consultation and ongoing communication about the issue but they were obviously concerned about their futures.
Rotorua Citizens Advice Bureau manager Jane Eynon-Richards said she hoped the council remained committed to the organisations whatever happened. "They have been pretty good the last month or so with consultation, but of course we are concerned.
"It's quite sad really because it's been such an amazing facility for the community.
"Everyone in here operates on the smell of an oily rag, without this building and the support of council I'm not sure how we will operate."
Mrs Eynon-Richards said a lot of rumours had been flying around lately and it was good the community knew about the problem.
Rotorua Budget Advisory Service manager Pakanui Tuhura said change was a part of life.
"At this stage everything is up in the air. We don't even know if we will be moving out. Once we have talked everything through with council we will have a direction and a plan in place.
"I think this is the right way for them to go, which is to consult with us.
"There's been lots of talk about the building for many years, so it's not a huge surprise," he said. "We know it's getting old and there have been leaks so they had to do something at some stage."
Community House Tenants
ADHD Association, Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimers Support Group, Parent to Parent, arthritis Foundation, Parkinson's Society, Asthma Society Rotorua, Prisoners Aid and Rehabilitation, Brain Injury Association, Rotorua Multi Cultural Council, Budget Advisory Service, Rotorua Social Services Council, Rotorua Citizens Advice, Stroke Foundation, Epilepsy Association, Supporting Families in Mental Health, Family Planning Association, Sexual Abuse Centre, Salvation Army, Lifelink/Samaritans, Literacy Rotorua, Mana Social Services
