She turned 30 in 2022, officially opening in August 1992, and now the Great Lake Centre is getting a bit of make-over.
Taupō District Council district venues manager Bryce Green said about $1.2m was spread across the project.
“It’s well overdue for some investment… Aside from general maintenance and a lick of paint here and there, it hasn’t really seen a whole lot more. It’s really exciting for Taupō and for the Great Lake Centre.”
The project involves sound and lighting upgrades in the theatre and new acoustic panelling on the walls to enhance it as a performance space and the main hall, currently under construction, is also having work done to improve the acoustics and lighting.
This includes the removal of a glazed half wall towards the back of the east wing which Green said was really “serving no purpose.”
There were also a range of aesthetic improvements, he said, such as repainting in a new colour, bathroom and backstage room upgrades and work in the foyers.
“So they’ll look a bit different… Most of the theme we’re carrying through there is a blackened timber look.”
The dressing rooms which he described as a hodgepodge of decorating styles would finish up looking “a little bit more designed for a star, if you know what I mean.”
The new tech for the theatre and hall would improve the service the GLC could offer, he said, but also improve efficiencies.
“Rather than spending a day doing something, we can spend an hour doing something. The idea for the sound and lighting upgrade, particularly in the theatre is it will be more attractive to touring groups. Because they could just come in, plug into our system and play… which is a good thing for us because that’s a potential increase in revenue stream.
“It’ll save us so much time, we’re not stripping light bars, we’re not loading in gear, all of that stuff which happened in the background, it just takes lots of time.”
The GLC was fortunate to have a very competent audiovisual tech operator in-house, Green said, who had helped research equipment fit for purpose and within budget.
“The next part of his job, and it’s already begun, is training some of the other venue operations staff to know how to use the gear.
“There’s a danger in having all your eggs in one basket… spreading that knowledge and getting the other guys trained up so that they can use it.”
He was sure local groups as well as commercial users would appreciate the changes.
“Last week we had a dance show in all week, and the feedback from the organiser was that it was the best show they’ve ever had. They’ve never had that level of functionality and lights and capabilities before… That’s really the first big test of that system since we’ve had it in. So, I guess the difference is being noticed already, which is awesome.”
The total project would not be complete until a few months into 2026, Green said, including some of the sound system such as JBL line array speakers and subs in the theatre.
“But we wanted to put it in after we’ve had all the paint done and then they tune it to the environment. That’ll be the last piece of the puzzle for the theatre.”
Some other aesthetic improvements would also happen later, once product was delivered.
He was particularly chuffed that West Auckland alternative metal band Blindspott will be playing the GLC on February 28 as part of their national tour next year.
“That’s going to be our first big gig in the main hall right after the renovation… There’ll be some stuff missing in the foyers that we haven’t been able to get, but at least the main hall will be done and all in action. That’s a pretty cool, exciting thing for us to be able to launch the hall with.”
Despite $1.2m sounding like a lot of money, Green said in today’s construction and procurement environment, “that’s really, not that much.”
“We’re working hard to get the best value that we can out of the money we’ve got, understanding that this is, at the end of the day, ratepayers’ money… We hope that, when people come back and see it when it’s completely done in say April, May, June, next year, there’ll be a bit of a wow factor.”
The facility was heavily used, both commercially and by the community, he said, from blood drives to dance performances, AGMs, conferences, even guinea pig shows.
“It sees absolutely everything… (But) there is a commercial component to it, and that helps us offset the top up from rates for our operating costs.”
The building was not self-funded, he said, and did not cover all its costs just from events.
“But my belief is we’re doing the right thing by the ratepayers to have essentially our premier event venue in the district brought back to life.”
The building of the centre itself was not without its setbacks; however the whole project was a success that former Mayor the late Joan Williamson remembered at the GLC’s 30th birthday.
“We finished it under time, under budget and debt free… We were the envy of other district councils around the country.”
Photo:
She turned 30 in 2022, officially opening in August 1992, and now the Great Lake Centre is getting a bit of make-over. Credit: Richard Lummus
