Bannockburn's community hall will get a "long overdue'' revamp after securing funding.
This week, the Central Lakes Trust announced a $125,000 grant to go towards renovation of the 105-year-old Coronation Hall as part of a $500,000 trust funding round.
The $400,000 upgrade will involve rebuilding its toilets, kitchen and meeting room and improving disabled access.
Bannockburn Community Centre Management Committee chairwoman Kerry Stanton-Herbert said she was delighted with the decision.
"It's long overdue. The toilets and kitchen are hanging on by a thread.''
The hall had not recently had much use, she said.
"We haven't really been pushing for it due to the facilities, but we will after the renovation. I imagine there would be something on every second week.''
If all went to plan, renovations would begin next month and be finished by Christmas, she said.
A grand piano housed at the Cromwell Memorial Hall will be returned to the Bannockburn hall after renovations.
It was removed when the building was closed.
Refurbishment was scheduled for 2010, but was delayed when it was red-stickered after a structural assessment determined the building did not meet the minimum earthquake standards of 33%.
A further engineering report was commissioned in 2014 which identified that the hall was 80% compliant and it was reopened.
The Central Otago District Council owns the hall, but property and facilities manager Mike Kerr said it would be transferred to the committee with a lease for community hall purposes.
The committee also secured other funding.
Central Lakes Trust chief executive Paul Allison said the trust previously approved a grant in 2010 which did not proceed due to the hall's closure.
"The upgrade to this popular community facility has been planned for quite some time, so it is pleasing that it can finally proceed.''
Central Otago Riding for the Disabled received a grant of $5000 to replace fencing on the Alexandra property where its horses are housed.
The trust is also continuing funding for the Tertiary Education Scholarship programme with a two-year grant of $250,000.
Operational funding was provided for six community organisations.
