CCC Community Committee:
Recommended CCC repair Mona Vale Homestead.
Urgent report on permanent repair of Gaiety Hall sought.
Grants recommended  for CCC approval for City Malthouse, New Regent Street Shop (number 25) and 98-100 Chester Street East House.
(Note: the Community Committee has not been delegated authority for the granting of heritage grants.)

"Committee recommends restoration of significant heritage landmark"

10 December 2013

Popular heritage attraction Mona Vale Homestead is another step closer to re-opening after Christchurch City Council’s Community Committee today (Tuesday 10 December) recommended it should be repaired and strengthened.

At its inaugural meeting, the Committee agreed Mona Vale Homestead, which was significantly damaged in the February 2011 earthquake, should be repaired and strengthened to 67 per cent of the New Building Standard (NBS).

This recommendation will go to the full Council for approval and it is expected repair and strengthening work will begin in mid-2014, with the homestead re-opening at the end of 2015.

The Mona Vale Homestead is of regional heritage significance and is listed in the Christchurch City Plan as a Group 1 heritage item. Before the earthquakes the homestead was a well-used wedding, restaurant and conference venue.

Committee Chair Yani Johanson says today’s recommendation to repair and strengthen such a significant building highlights the Council’s commitment to our city’s heritage.

“Mona Vale Homestead holds a special place in the hearts of many Christchurch people. We look forward to seeing this important heritage facility reinstated so it can re-open and be used for functions for many years to come.”

Other heritage facilities in the city and Banks Peninsula also received a boost.

The committee requested that staff prepare an urgent report for the next Council meeting recommending the permanent repair of Gaiety Hall in Akaroa and allocating up to $500,000 from the Council’s Infrastructure and Betterment Allowance Fund to get progress underway.

The Committee will also recommend to the Council that it awards three Heritage Incentive Grants for the conservation and maintenance of heritage facilities in the city. These include:

The City Malthouse, owned by the Malthouse Theatre Trust, in 71 Colombo Street (up to $20,000)

A New Regent Street shop, 25 New Regent Street ($2, 952)

A pair of two-storey semi-detached houses at 98-100 Chester Street East ($132, 800)