Nasty surprises under the floor, budget blow-outs and pandemic hold-ups did nothing to deter volunteers in Ophir from completing a major bathroom makeover at their town hall.

The Ophir Welfare and Hall committees successfully applied to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment(MBIE) for funding for their project but when work began it became evident the $210,000 granted was not going to quite get there.

Working with Breen Construction and the Central Otago District Council, quotes were discounted, extras trimmed off and budgets squeezed.

Council agreed to carry any further risk and added $10,000 gained from a surplus from a separate Ophir project, where a new pool changing room had been built and piping replaced.

Ophir locals volunteered over 200 hours

Thirteen volunteers rolled up their sleeves to assist the contractor but after the old bathroom was demolished rotten timbers forming the bottom of the walls were discovered. Additional work was also found to be needed with drainage and in the lobby connecting to the hall, while securing materials through Covid-19 induced delays created further headaches.

The group pushed on, however, completing the project as efficiently as possible but still incurring a $21,047 budget overrun.

“It is estimated that volunteers worked approximately 200 hours including the time spent preparing the funding application, assisting with design and negotiations, and coordinating the volunteers. Without the significant contribution by volunteers this project would not have been possible,”

according to a council report.

The Vincent Community Board yesterday congratulated the group, particularly hall committee chairperson Sam Leask and treasurer Malcom Topliss, for securing the funding grant and creating a facility the community could be proud of.

Working with the Ophir community to get the project done was CODC’s Christina Martin.

Council property and facilities manager Christina Martin told the board the groups had also established disability access and completed fire safety work as part of the project.

“It’s a fantastic outcome and was such a collaborative project,” she said.

The board approved the over-run be funded from the council’s Ophir Hall investment account.