Last week, Waitaki District Council signed the contract with New Zealand design and build contractor Apollo Projects for the construction of the Network Waitaki Events Centre. Work on the site is expected to begin in September. Completion is scheduled for February 2026.
The new events centre will be the biggest development in Waitaki for many years and has a budget of $26million for the main build and $6m for ancillary works, but the Waitaki Events Centre Trust is still seeking another $4m.
Events centre trustee Deidre Senior said the disco was "a hit", with over 400 children attending the two discos held at the Loan and Merc on April 12.
The disco raised just under $2500 and had added benefits.
"We now have so many families who have contributed to the event centre and can say that they were part of it.
"Our Event Centre Trust Facebook page ended up with an additional 80 followers following the disco, which means we have many more people engaged in what the trust are doing.
"It's about raising the profile of the trust, having people feel a part of this very important community project and keeping people informed moving forward.
"Now that there is a contract signed with the contractors, it makes it a very real project for people to be a part of, " she said.
Mrs Senior, also principal of Weston School and a North Otago netball stalwart, said more community events were planned for the Waitaki Events Centre Trust fund.
