The people have gone and Cromwell’s Memorial Hall will be closed immediately but demolition is likely to be a few months away.

Since the last meeting of the Cromwell Community Board on May 9 any groups who were using the old hall have found other venues.

The facility was costing more than it was earning, the board was told at a meeting on Tuesday. 

Staff reported that to keep it open would cost around $600 a month and a new $850 building warrant of fitness would also be needed. Closing the hall would also allow the removal of asbestos to begin, council’s Cromwell Masterplan lead Darren Penketh said.  

A plan for the demolition would be scheduled once “high level” costs and concept plans from architects Jasmax had been reviewed.

Council would be looking into ways items like chairs, tables and recyclable building materials could be reused by community groups.

Originally the construction phase for the replacement cultural centre was to have started on July 1 - something considered at the time to be an ambitious timeframe.

A revised timeframe for development of Cromwell’s new cultural centre.

Council staff presented a new timeframe yesterday outlining what and when the board would consider on the project at upcoming meetings. 

Approval of the old hall’s demolition was expected in early August with the appointment of a construction firm for the new build due for approval early next year.

The $16M facility has been costed based on a 2000sqm size and a project advisory group of two Cromwell Community Board members and two council staff is guiding progress for the long-awaited development.

A new museum is also tagged for the water-side site on the Kawarau Arm of Lake Dunstan, with $6M set aside for this.