My Account
Subsidence on its Silverdale site has affected two of the Pioneer Village’s historic buildings, and there have been significant cost overruns in fixing the problem.
Members of the Silverdale & Districts Historical Society, that runs the village, have known that the historic Old Parsonage, built in 1877, and Neville House, which dates from the early 20th Century, needed repiling for a few years. They worked hard to raise a total of $85,000 to get the job done – this includes the cost of building consents.
However, Society president, Ian Hacking, says even before work started on one of the buildings, a few weeks ago, the group knew that money would not be enough.
He says the cost went from $25,000 per building to $39,000 for the Old Parsonage and $39,500 for Neville House. This was because the specifications for the work changed, with more piles required than originally thought. Also, the group had not factored in GST.
The repiling of the Old Parsonage is now complete and Hacking, says volunteers are doing a major cleanup of the site.
They are also going to do the interior decorating themselves– that work was to be contracted, but doing it themselves saves money.
Repiling the Old Neville Homestead has been delayed by weather and is expected to begin in November, when the soil has hopefully dried out, Hacking says.
He is confident that the Society will be able to raise the additional $30,000 they need, using some reserve funds (normally used for running costs), and applying for grants.
“When this is all done, the buildings will be safely future proofed so the community can continue to enjoy the historic village,” he says.
Donations or sponsorship are welcome. The Society’s bank account details are on its website, www.silverdalepioneervillage.com/
Backstories March 6, 2023
