The Queenstown Lakes District will soon be the proud owner of a mobile sound shell, thanks to the efforts of Wanaka Rotary.

Following comments by local and visiting musicians about the state of the acoustics in the Lake Wanaka Centre a report was commissioned by council contractor Ken Gousmett.

Marshall Day Acoustics' report highlighted two issues:

• The sound generated from the stage was unsatisfactory from both the performers' and the audience point of view.  The performers could not hear themselves and the sound generated by the performers was dissipated rather than thrown out into the hall.
• The hall itself was deemed acoustically very good for using electronic sound, but not very good for either the spoken word or for acoustic or non-amplified music or speech.

The report recommended the purchase of a sound shell.

Central Otago Regional Orchestra Chair John Buchanan approached Wanaka Rotary to see if they would assist with fund-raising.  Wanaka Rotary was quick to volunteer to assist as a 2005 Rotary Centenary project.

"It's something we're delighted to be involved with, it's right up our alley," Treasurer Ray Newell said.

Wanaka Rotary President Blair Burridge agreed.  "This was an identified community need at a time when we were looking for a centenary project," he said.

The Queenstown-Lakes District Council pledged its support for the project, as did funders the Central Lakes Trust and Community Trust of Otago.  With Rotary's substantial contribution, the total funding of around $36,000 was soon organised.

The mobile sound shell has now been ordered and will be available for use across the district when it arrives from the United States in about three months.  Mr Buchanan said the orchestra would work with Rotary to organise an appropriate event to mark both the arrival of the sound shell and the Rotary Centenary.

Further measures may still be taken to improve the hall's acoustics, and Mr Buchanan would be pursuing those next.

ENDS

For further information, contact QLDC Special Projects Manager Lee Harris on 03 441 0499 or 027 233 7934.

By: Kiri