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Fence facelift

The opera house corner is about to get a funky do-up with a fence designed to display art being built over the next few weeks.

Top artists have agreed to provide the 10 works, however their names cannot be released until final details are in place. The art on the fence project will help celebrate the 100th birthday of the Hawke’s Bay Opera House.

Decisions on what to do with the earthquake-prone Hawke’s Bay Opera House will be made in the next six or so months, after extensive public consultation, said Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule.

“The art, by some very talented and recognised artists, will celebrate the opera house’s 100 year anniversary and brighten up an area that has, through necessity, a very utilitarian look at the moment,” he said.

“It is a shame that in its centenary year we cannot be inside the opera house and celebrate the milestone in the manner we would have wished, but I think this is an exciting way to do what we can, and I think everyone is going to be very impressed with the addition to our city,” said Mr Yule.           

In the meantime a decision has been made to replace the aesthetically-challenged safety fencing with something that complements the many sculptures that give Hastings city’s its distinctive feel.

The plan is have the fence built by mid-August, with the weather-proof copies of the original art going up in October.

Most of the fence will be made of marine-grade ply however the section going around the corner from Hastings St into Heretaunga St, outside the Municipal Buildings, will be made in pool-fencing style to enable drivers to see round the intersection.

The opera house and Municipal Buildings were closed early last year after they were found to be earthquake-prone.

With current repair estimates for the two buildings nearing $18m, there are implications for the two other projects that are on council’s books: The revitalisation of Civic Square and investment in an inner city hotel complex.

Council has engaged a project manager and put together an independent working group to help council come up with options covering all four projects. Those options are expected to be ready by late September.

4 October 2017

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