Ground breaking news for Raetihi cosy club building

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 678, 18 March 1997, Page 3

Ground breaking news for Raetihi cosy club building

Work started on Raetihi 's new cosmopolitan club building on Tuesday last week, with a digger breaking the ground for the earthworks on Saturday. The new building, expected to be ready for opening in fune, is being constructed behind the present one which will later be demolished. Some of the older members of the club were on hand to ;ee the start. Norm Grossart, a founder member when the club first >pened in 1946, objected to the project, strongly voicing lis opinion. He said he accepted that it was necessary to renovate the

existing building but wonders about spending so much money on a new building — expected to cost up to $600,000. A committee member explained that after weighing up the cost of renovations to meet new health and safety regulations, it was decided to start afresh. "The whole thing is a load of baloney," said Mr Grossart, "this building has stood the test of time for 50 years and would stand up to things for many more years yet." The committee put the plans and costs to members, who had the opportunity to lodge objections. The outcome of that process was that the majority supported the proposal, said a spokesperson.