Kia Ora and welcome to the monthly newsletter providing information related to the construction of the new Waikato Regional Theatre.

We hope everyone is coping with the return to a Level 3 Lockdown – lets hope this doesn’t drag on.



Significant Events in the Next Month

Two Significant Events may happen on site, subject to the Covid situation – the first of the site fencing and the Sod Turning ceremony.

As we reported last issue, the plan has been to install the first of the fencing around the Theatre site next Monday, 11 October. However, if Hamilton is still in the Level 3 Lockdown, the fencing will NOT happen on this date.  

If the city has returned to Level 2, it will proceed then. Otherwise, we will announce the new date via this newsletter e-list once it is fully re-set.

The installation of the site fencing is expected to result in the following changes in the immediate area (subject to some confirmations by Hamilton City Council).

  • Closure of the footpath and the left lane of Sapper Moore-Jones Place adjacent to the site boundary, whilst maintaining segregation to the public right-of-way.

  • Closure of the Victoria St footpath and parking bays directly in front of the site.

  • Closure of Embassy Park.

  • Street furniture removals.

  • The stairway to the lower riverside footpath at the bottom of Sapper Moore-Jones Place will stay open.

Meanwhile, the Sod Turning by the Prime Minister is still officially scheduled to take place at 10.30am on Wednesday week, 13 October, but this will also be postponed if Level 3 continues into next week.


Communications

The Foster Construction team have set up a new email for any Theatre site-related queries you may have - queries.wrt@fosters.co.nz.


Planning progress

The last month has predominately been spent advancing the design of the Theatre and the construction management plans required to start the demolition phase of the project.

The draft Traffic Management Plan is currently being reviewed by Hamilton City Council, including the first phase of its implementation. That begins with the installation of the fencing described above.

The Environmental, Noise and Vibration Management Plans are still being developed, and will be provided to neighbours shortly for their input.

Progress on Site

The only works occurring on site in the last month has been some soil testing, the location and disconnections of some services (e.g. gas lines), and site investigations for the design process.



Overall Programme

The project is tracking to the programme below. 

  • Demolition                                               October – first quarter 2022.

  • Earthworks and site infrastructure          First quarter – mid-2022.

  • Main theatre building construction        Mid-2022 – first quarter 2024.

  • Final installations and testing                    First quarter 2024.



About this Update…

These Waikato Regional Theatre Construction Updates are produced by Graeme Ward from RDT Pacific, the Theatre’s Overall Project Manager, assisted by Mark Servian from Momentum Waikato, their Communications and Marketing Manager.

These newsletter issues will be posted at the website waikatoregionaltheatre.co.nz – which for now is a dedicated web address for construction news and contacts, separate from Momentum Waikato’s theatre community and fundraising site sharethestage.co.nz.