Waimate Property Holdings project manager Les Buckingham said this year the company had started a long-term project to revitalise the town’s central business district, but the work would not happen overnight. The company, part of Waimate rich lister Gary Rooney’s Rooney Group, was on target to complete its first Queen St project by Christmas.
"It’s just what Gary [Mr Rooney] wants to do for the town — for the community," Mr Buckingham said.
This winter Waimate Property Holdings began work demolishing the vacant, earthquake-prone, 99-year-old building at 84 Queen St, and re-creating its Edwardian feel as it builds a roughly $1.9 million medical centre, ambulance bay and pharmacy.
Nearby, the design stage was under way for a redevelopment of the Waimate Hotel — the original building would be retained but converted into a restaurant. Last month the company sought permission from the Waimate District Council to remove the building next door — at 45 and 49 Queen St — in order to create a courtyard as an outdoor dining area. Earlier, the company received approval from the council to remove a further three Category C historic buildings in the main street at 57-63 Queen St, known as the Savoy building, 73 Queen St, known as Country Kitchen, and 68 Queen St, known as Walker MacGeorge.
There were no firm plans in place for those properties.
"It could be five years before we do some of that demolition work," Mr Buckingham said.
"It’s a very, very slow process. It’s not all going to happen all at once."
Waimate Mayor Craig Rowley said the development and potential future development represented a "most wonderful opportunity for Waimate". The company’s first project, the medical hub, was "looking fantastic" and he was pleased an "iconic" building, the Waimate Hotel, would be refurbished as a restaurant with the two buildings next door removed and converted into an outdoor dining area.
He did not know the "economics" of the projects but future developments would be "in keeping with the main street’s streetscape" and the work would help to rejuvenate the town’s main street — a key issue for ratepayers when the council consulted on its economic development strategy.
"I think a lot of this is just Mr Rooney giving back to Waimate again. It’s absolutely fantastic," Mr Rowley said.
"This has actually tied in very, very nicely with our theme of rejuvenation of the main street."
Mr Rooney contributed significantly to the town’s recently completed Waimate Event Centre.
