With all the boxes now ticked for its long-awaited building consent, Masterton’s Kim’s Way night refuge for the homeless is on track to open early next year – after the project recently came close to being abandoned.
Once refurbished, the hall on Bannister St will be able to sleep 10 people, while the three individual cabins out the back will enable a total refuge occupancy of 13.
Those championing the project have been working for months with Masterton District Council on the building consent necessary for the building’s operation.
The building consent was finally granted in late September, marking the end of the council’s consent and compliance process.
There has been a major focus on the building’s fire engineering and protection, something architect Darryl Silverwood said was a priority for all parties.
“The building is an old structure, and it was very important to our office and the council that the fire protection for the building was upgraded so it is safe for the occupants.”
Included in the building consent’s compliance schedule are emergency lighting systems, final exit doors, fire separation elements that will prevent the spread of a blaze, and evacuation signs.
Silverwood said other significant areas of the building consent included making the refuge accessible.
“This means we have included a wheelchair-friendly ramp and an accessible bathroom.”
Volunteering to help with the process on top of his normal work, Silverwood said it is great to get it over the line with the council.
“The team is all happy that work is now underway,” Silverwood said.
“We felt it is important to the community to provide a safe location where the homeless had shelter to go to.”
On Tuesday eight tonnes of jib board was delivered to the refuge, which organiser Lyn Tankersley said warranted a social media plea for help to move it inside before the forecast rain.
“I almost keeled over backwards when the truck arrived!” Tankersley said.
“Some help came from Wairarapa College and the resource centre, and some from Tunnicliffe Builders too.”
Coincidentally, Tuesday was also World Homeless Day, Tankersley noted, which is observed to acknowledge those working to alleviate the stress of those living without a permanent roof over their heads.
“So I’ve been telling everybody who came and helped that they are helping Masterton’s extreme homeless on World Homeless Day.”
With Cameron Construction expected on site in the next few weeks to install the jib, Tankersley said she is “just breathing a big sigh of relief that we got there”.
She also revealed that she’d recently considered dropping the whole project.
“About a month ago, there was a point where I was almost ready to pull the plug. But things have come through.”
That’s largely down to people giving up their own time to help, Tankersley said, like Masterton District Council councillor Stella Lennox, former Masterton mayor Bob Francis, Silverwood, and many more.
“Darryl Silverwood’s been incredible, we couldn’t have done it without him. We’re just so rapt with his help, he’s an amazing person.”
Tankersley now estimates that March next year is a viable opening date for the refuge.
