OHAKUNE SQUAS COURTS OPEN

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 474, 23 February 1993, Page 8

OHAKUNE SQUAS

COURTS OPEN

Saturday 27 February

Breaking ground

History H

30 Junc 1980 - First mccting and steering coinniittee formcd. Gcof Peach chairman and John Laurenson secretary. August 1980 - Site chosen. Decision to build as an integral part of the then planned Ruapehu College and Community gymnasium. Estimated cost of three courts $85,000. November 1980 - First major fund-raising project started. Bonanza raffle eventually netted $15,000. Updated architects estimation of cost was now $135,000 however. December 1980 - Agreement reached on Licence to Occupy on the school site reached with the Ruapehu college Board of Governors. January 1981 - Club informed by bank that it would not be able to borrow any money if it was built on crown land. July 1981 Incorporated as The Ohakune Squash Rackets Club. December 1981

Alternative sites had I again becn considered including various council sites, private land and I Ohakune Club land with the Ohakune Club being the favourcd option. July 1982 - Specified dcparture applied for to I build at the" Ohakune Club. June 1983 - Still no satisfactory , leasing agreement reached. Meanwhile squash club lawyers had arranged a guarantee in principle I through the Ohakune Borough Council for the funds that would be ■ needed at the original College site. August 1983 - A frustrated and somewhat dcpleted committee had donc a complcte circlc and were now considering the College site again. $21,000 had been raiscd but still no build- fl ing. Inflation was escalating the building cost by $3,000 per month. - Early 1984 - The last act of the few remaining committee before going into recess was to com-

mission engineer's drawings for a full three-court complex at the gymnasium site. Estimated construction cost risen to over $200,000. 1984 to 1991 - Some individuals and groups interested in building squash courts at different sites. The $20,000 already raised was always offered as the last $20,000 but unfortunately none of the projects eventuated. Novembcr 1990 - A new estimate for construction calculated at $595,000. March 1991 - A public meeting again tested community interest and a subsequent meeting saw the project restarted with some fresh blood and new enthusiasm. May 1991 - Committee reformed. August 1991 - High construction costs forced the committee to look at three stages, aiming to construct a shell only with three playing courts. The changing rooms of the gymnasium

bcing uscd initially and constructed at a later stage with the lounge and interior. May 1992 - Stage one tender documents almost completed but apparent that some design

changes needed to use the currcntly recommended precast walls. June 1992 - A complete change in design commissioned through engineers Loughnan, Hall and Thompson with a resulting $100,000

cost saving. July 1992 - Tendcrs out, with ihe committee acting as the main contractor under the guidance of Bill Scobie as overall building co-ordinator. August 1992 - Tendcrs

closed with sevcral pleasing quotes received. The decision to commence building to a closed in stage was made immediately. 14 August 1992 -

Actual building commenced with first hole dug. 19 November 1992 - Lotteries grant of $78,750 approved. 22 November 1992 -

Official roof shout. December 1992 - Decision to build to completion. 27 February 1993 - Official opening and first games.

The back wall on