Gore Library and Community Space Redevelopment

Thanks to everyone for being involved. Our new James Cumming Community Centre and Library is open. You can book rooms at the community centre on our website www.goredc.govt.nz 

• Innovative wool insulation used in new building

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  The Gore District Council is showcasing a natural wool blend insulation product in its new Gore Library and James Cumming Community Centre.

  Terra Lana’s natural wool blend is being used in the ceiling and exterior walls, while the company’s Chatterblock+ acoustic insulation product will be fitted in the interior walls.

  There will also be woollen carpets in areas with light foot traffic.

  Chief executive Stephen Parry said the project team opted for wool blend insulation over the traditional fibreglass products to support the wool industry.

  “We copped some criticism from local sheep farmers for not using wool in our new office block, so taking that on the chin, we looked at how we could do better in the library/community centre project.”

  While the wool blend product costs about 12% more than fibreglass insulation and takes longer to install, it has several advantages.

  Signal Management Construction Manager Nick Jones said the wool blend was safer to work with.

  “Our team do not have to wear personal protective equipment or masks when installing this product because there are no dust or fibreglass particles.”

  It is made from sustainable, recycled and natural materials and creates a healthier environment by absorbing atmospheric moisture and toxins.

  About 340 bales or 2100m2 have been installed in the new building, Mr Jones said.

  All offcuts from the site are bagged and sent back to the manufacturer. They are then recycled into new insulation, he said.

  Terra Lane product information says the ceiling and wall insulation is a mixture of clean and recycled fibre from textile mills and new sheep’s wool. The wool is blended with polyester melt bond fibre and thermally bonded.

  The Chatterblock+ is made with pre-consumer waste wool fibre from New Zealand’s textile and carpet manufacturers.

• Gore businesses among successful tenders for redevelopment

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  Gore builders JC Builders 2020 has successfully won the tender to build Gore’s new library and community centre.

  JC Builders’ (formerly Jones and Cooper Builders) tender was approved this week by the Gore District Council. The company is one of seven Gore businesses awarded over $2.1 million in work associated with the project. Subject to gaining building consent, work was expected to start early next month.

  The project sees the transformation of the former James Cumming Wing hall and function rooms into a modern library and community space. The total cost is $7.935 million, a 16.3%increase from projected costs formulated almost a year ago.

  Chief Executive Stephen Parry said market escalation was the main reason for the increase.

  “The construction market is at capacity with abundant work, labour shortages, and multiple material price rises giving manufacturing and logistic headaches.

  “All signs point to this buoyant market continuing in the foreseeable future, given the combination of housing shortages and large public projects, such as Invercargill’s CBD redevelopment.”

  Some of the cost increase was attributable to design changes following last year’s community consultation and feedback from the Council, Mr Parry said.

  “We’ve increased the size of the community foyer and storage area and the number of community toilets, among other things.”

  Mr Parry said the project was still affordable. The Council would stay within its self-imposed 5% rate increase over the next decade by moving the upgrade of the old library building to Year 5 and Year 6 of the 10-Year-Plan.

  Gore District Mayor Tracy Hicks the cost increase was disappointing but a reflection of the current building market.

  “We are in a situation where we need to make progress. Delaying this project in the hope we get more competitive tenders is a forlorn hope.”

  Mr Hicks said there had been little room to make substantial changes to the design without impacting functionality and ignoring public feedback.

  “I know $7.9 million is a lot of money. That said, the cost of this project is a lot less than other library/community centre projects around the country.

  “It is the Council’s job to be fiscally responsible. In this instance, we can deliver an enduring community asset within our long term financial planning.”

  Of the tenders approved seven were Gore District-based, 15 Southland-based and eight from outside the province.

  Signal Management Group would manage the project. It has a long association with the Council, having successfully delivered projects such as the new Council administration building and Gore Aquatic Centre.

  The Council has the following external funding for this project:

  • $3 million Government 'Shovel Ready' project funding
  • $958,000 Mataura Valley Milk development contribution

• Removal of trees marks the start of redevelopment

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  After months of planning, preliminary work is about to begin on the redevelopment of the James Cumming Wing into a new library and community centre.

  Scaffolding will start going up in the next couple of weeks as contractors prepare to remove asbestos from the exterior. About 12 trees and other vegetation around the building have to be pruned or removed to make room for the scaffolding.

  Gore District Chief Executive Stephen Parry said removing the asbestos was scheduled to start the second week in May. The work will take two to three months.

  An assessment found asbestos in the external cladding around the building's two storey section and the hall. There was also a small amount inside the building.

  “There’s no exposed asbestos, therefore it wouldn’t have been a risk to users of the building.”

  Acting parks and reserves manager Chris Rutherford said the most significant tree outside the building, a Ribbonwood near the Ardwick Street entrance, would be retained.

  However, several semi-mature Olive trees, a Tree of Heaven and a selection of natives, including an established Totara, need to be removed.

  “Unfortunately, the Totara is less than one metre from the building. Given its proximity, the tree would have had to be removed in time anyway.”

  Mr Rutherford said removing the trees and vegetation would provide an ideal chance to landscape the area, where practical, with new trees and shrubs to complement the final design of the redevelopment.

  Some of the new turf at the front of the JC Wing, in Bowler Avenue, is also being removed. This is to ensure we can retain the soil and garden materials free of demolition contamination, so it can be recycled and reused later.

  Work was continuing on the detailed design. The project team hopes to have this finalised by the end of June. Internal demolition was scheduled for early July.

  
  

• Gore Library Moving to Temporary Site

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  The Gore Library will be relocating to the Encounter New Life Church, in Jacob Street (off Hokonui Drive) this month to allow work to start on the new library and community spaces at the James Cumming Wing.

  The library is open as usual until Friday 16 April, when it will close for three weeks to allow staff to move to the new location.

  The Library will reopen at 11 Jacob Street on Thursday 6 May. Jacob Street is located off Hokonui Drive. The temporary library site is near the end of the short street, on the left. Parking is on Jacob Street.

  The Church will remain open for services and other activities, using spaces separate to the library. The library will be open normal hours, but will be closed on Sundays.

  Space will be a bit tight, but our staff has done a great job of mapping out the church hall to make sure all the books will be there. Internet computers, the Ancestry computer, printer, copier and scanner will be available, as will WiFi.

  If your books are due during the closed period (17 April to 6 May) they will be automatically extended until Monday 10 May.

  The after-hours returns bin will be moved at the same time as we shift everything else. Please hold onto your books until the library reopens, or you can return them to the Mataura Library.

  The Mataura Library will be open as usual 10.00am-5.00pm Monday – Friday. You are welcome to use this library anytime.

  The new library and community space redevelopment is expected to take about 18 months to complete.

• Theatre chosen to present redevelopment concept plan

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  The Gore District Council will present a concept plan of the Gore Library and community space redevelopment at the St James Theatre next month.

  The presentation will be held on Tuesday 1 December, starting at 5.30pm.

  Chief executive Stephen Parry said there were a couple of reasons the Council chose the somewhat unique option of the theatre to give the public its first look at the draft plan.

  “Given this is a significant project for the Council and the community, we believe it deserves a significant venue.

  “The exceptional design produced by McCulloch Architects also deserves the visual impact of the big screen.”

  Earlier this month the Council approved the concept design developed by the Invercargill architects from the many ideas put forward by the public during the initial community engagement.

  There will be an opportunity for further community feedback after the concept has been presented.

  “While we have managed to capture a lot of what people told us they wanted in a new library/community space, there may be some aspects of the interior layout that needs fine-tuning,” Mr Parry said.

  Without giving too much away, Mr Parry said the concept design was a complete transformation of the James Cumming Wing.

  “What we will be presenting is a modern building with a light, spacious feel and appealing façade that will serve the community for decades to come.”

  The proposal also gives ratepayers the best value for money, he said.

  “We have looked at various scenarios, including returning to the site of the old library. Financially, nothing comes close to the James Cumming Wing as this is the only location that comes with $3million from the Government.”