It’s out with the old and to prepare for the new at the Rakaia Domain.

The demolition of the old Rakaia rugby changing rooms and public toilets facility has started.

The new Rakaia Recreation Centre is set to be built on the site in a project led by the Rakaia Rugby Club and a community that has been raising funds for the recreation centre for a decade.

Project manager, Mark Boag, said the building plans are being consented and the project is out for tender, closing on September 11.

After that they will select a preferred contractor and finalise the construction timeline and project cost, Boag said.

“As soon as we have things worked out we’ll be trying to start building as soon as possible.”

The out-of-date changing room facility will be replaced by a fit-for-purpose building with clubrooms, changing sheds, and public toilets.

The Ashburton District Council is funding the $351,000 replacement public toilets in the new facility.

It will be a prefabricated public toilet block that will be incorporated into the eastern end of the centre, near the car park.

With the public toilets being demolished, visitors to the domain will still have access to the other public toilets at the nearby Rakaia Bowling Club.

The Rakaia Reserve Board, which manages the Rakaia Domain with the council, will erect signs advising visitors to the domain that public toilets are available at the bowling club.

By Jonathan Leask