Construction of the $2.85 million West Otago Health Centre in Tapanui is on track, and several fundraising events are planned for next month.
West Otago Health Trust chairman Allister Body said despite the recent bad weather, construction was on schedule, mostly due to a run of good weather at the end of last year.
About a third of the roofing was completed, and the trust was ''really happy'' with progress.
The facility is expected to be completed by mid-July.
In January last year, two Dunedin businesses - Cook Brothers Construction and Oakley Gray Architects - won the $2.4 million contract for the community-owned health centre.
Since then, the project budget had been capped at $2.85 million due to alterations as part of the design process.
Mr Body said the trust had enough money to meet the stage one construction costs. Stage two of the project - a helipad estimated to cost $10,000 - would be paid for by the Mercer Trust with labour provided by the Tapanui Volunteer Fire Brigade, but about $250,000 was needed for the third stage, equipment and landscaping.
''We still have to keep the hammer down. We'll do the plant and equipment first, then landscaping. It would be lovely to open the facility with everything done.''
Fundraising committee chairwoman Annalie Downie said several fundraising events were planned for February.
The Designz in the Gardenz garden tour will take place around the Tapanui area, and artworks and jewellery will be on sale.
The event is held over two days - Saturday, February 1 and Sunday, February 2.
The health trust and the Hokonui Country Music Festival are holding a fundraising concert at the West Otago Community Centre on Sunday, February 9, from 1.30pm.
New Zealand's Got Talent finalist Jenny Mitchell, of Gore, will be one of the performers, along with other local talents.
Mr Body said a ''roof shout'' would be held on February 14 to give local people a chance to see progress, while raising money and ''having fun''.
''We can't have the roof shout on site, so we're holding it at the nearby golf club. They have been very supportive of the whole project.''
For serious golfers, there would be a tournament-style course, and for others there would be a novelty course.
A barbecue and auction would follow.
Some auction items had already been donated.
The medical centre is being built on the grounds of the former Tapanui hospital on State Highway 90.
It will include a 14-bed rest-home, offering the district's elderly residents a chance to stay in the town instead of having to move to facilities in larger centres.
Thirteen rooms have been sponsored, with naming rights awarded to each room. One nurse's consulting room and 10 bedrooms remained unsponsored.
The Tapanui hospital was closed in 1994, and bought by the community in 2004.
West Otago Health Ltd, a charitable company, was formed in 2002 to run the day-to-day business from its base at the West Otago Medical Centre in Tapanui.
The company provides a range of community health services, including district nursing, home help, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and meals on wheels.
There are also 24-hour general-practice services seven days a week.
The new centre is expected to employ 20-30 people, providing health services to more than 2000 people in West Otago and outlying areas.
