Shopping centre to reopen after earthquake

QueensgateLower Hutt’s Queensgate Shopping Centre will reopen the majority of the centre in April.

The shopping centre will reopen on April 6 following the completion of demolition of a portion of the carpark and its cinema complex after closing for inspection following the Kaikoura earthquake in November and partially re-opened 11 days later.

It will be re-clad and a ground level carpark put in the place of the current demolition site.

The centre’s management will hold an information evening for all retailers in late March to provide details of the reopening and to outline future developments at the centre.

Retailers whose premises remained closed because of the adjacent demolition will be given a confirmed date to access their stores in the coming week.

Queensgate’s management company, Stride Investment Management Limited, has previously announced it will re-build the cinema complex, with detail of this to be provided once planning and design work has been completed.

In the meantime, the ground level parking and cladding will be a medium-term solution.

Management said “shrink wrapping” the building to create protection from the elements will allow contractors to take their time in creating the best possible medium-term design aesthetic, with the intention being that the shrink wrap will still be in place at the time of reopening to allow this work to continue.

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