Local firm awarded Royal Wanganui Opera House earthquake strengthening contract

Published on 23 April 2015

23 April 2015

The Wanganui District Council has awarded the seismic upgrade contract for the Royal Wanganui Opera House to local company W&W Construction 2010 Limited.

Deputy Property Manager Leighton Toy says the scope of the project was increased to allow for additional foundation capacity, fire compliance work and roof replacement.

“It’s great that we have awarded a local company this contract and we look forward to working alongside W&W Construction over the next six months.”

Seating refurbishment work will also be completed during this period with a contractor to be appointed soon.

The earthquake strengthening work will bring the building up to a level greater than 33 per cent of the New Building Standard (NBS), which is required by legalisation. The Opera House currently has a 10 per cent rating.

The total cost of the work is $965,984, which includes $648,984 for the seismic upgrade. The fire compliance and roof replacement work makes up the balance of the contract. The orchestra pit will also be extended.

“The scope of the foundation capacity has been increased so that if there is a requirement in the future to increase the NBS rating to 67 per cent or greater, the structural work will already have been done.”

The upgrade work will be undertaken in two stages; from May 4 to August 31 and then from October 19 to December 4. The Opera House will be closed during these times but will be open for the Russian National Ballet Theatre’s production of Swan Lake on September 5 and Sleeping Beauty on September 6.