`Plan B' likely for 49th annual shearing competition

An architectural drawing of a proposed pavilion for Waimate Shears and the South Canterbury A&P...
An architectural drawing of a proposed pavilion for Waimate Shears and the South Canterbury A&P Association. Image supplied.

Organisers of the Waimate Shears are looking at a "plan B'' for hosting this year's 49th shearing competition.

The event, held in the second week of October and doubling as the New Zealand Spring Shearing Championships, draws about 160 shearers a year.

It would probably be held under a marquee at its new site this year after leaving its home of four decades at the Waimate Stadium last year, Waimate Shears president Warren White said.

The competition could celebrate its half-century in a new, roughly $600,000, 800sqm-900sqm purpose-built, multi-use facility.

After the shearing competition was forced to look for a new home when the new Waimate sporting complex took the place of its former home, Waimate Shears began negotiating with the South Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association.

Last year, the plan had been to redevelop the Dempsey Pavilion at the Waimate showgrounds for $150,000 but the proposal for the site had grown since.

An estimated 10,000 to 15,000 people would use the new building each year, Mr White said.

Equipped with a hall, dining room, kitchen, secretary's office, toilets and showers, the new facility could host other functions, such as 21st birthdays and weddings.

"There might be a slight chance that we might be able to use it [this year] before it gets finished, but it's only just a very, very, very slight chance,'' Mr White said.

Although Waimate Shears had raised about $160,000 for the project, he estimated the group was still as much as $150,000 short of its target. The group was getting final pricing done on the proposed build.

In a best-case scenario, construction could begin in six weeks.

Last week, the group asked the Waimate District Council for relief over its building consent fees.

It was looking for continued local support, business support and would also look for some major sponsors, Mr White said

hamish.maclean@odt.co.nz

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