PHOTO/FILE
Carterton District Council has started work on the construction of its new animal facility in Dalefield.
The existing animal facility is no longer fit for purpose and does not meet the legislative requirements.
In 2018, the council did a location study to establish the optimal location for an upgraded animal facility in Carterton.
The budget for the new facility was $350k and was approved during the 2019/20 Annual Plan process.
This has since been increased to $370k to accommodate for increasing construction costs.
There is an extensive history of Wairarapa’s three district councils attempting to provide a shared service, however, a consensus was not reached due to differing operational requirements and budgetary expectations.
Council officers have now progressed a potential design and specification for its site at Dalefield Rd.
Work has begun onsite, with the topsoil being stripped and a hard standing laid down to allow a suitable working space during the winter months.
Services have been installed, such as water, sewerage, electricity, and security.
This means these services are ready to be hooked up once the building has been constructed.
Carterton Mayor Greg Lang was pleased the long-awaited project was now moving forward.
“We have no choice but to upgrade our facility. It is no longer fit for purpose,” he said.
“Council staff have worked hard for many years to get to this stage, and this is a positive step towards completing this project.”
The design for the structure has been completed for some time, with project managers working on its structural clarifications. — NZLDR
- Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
