Category: Redevelopment

Not surprisingly, we have been getting some questions about how our new boathouse operates so here is some information to help everyone along. It is not complete as we are yet to have handover of some functions / items in the building. When we do have all the handover complete, we will organise a time to walk members through the building so you get to know first-hand how to operate certain things.
ACCESS
Members can apply for access fobs using the form contained in the access policy on the website. Member fobs give you access into the boathouse through the rear door and also the downstairs front door. They also provide access to the gym and the hall areas inside the boathouse.
When you are down for training or any other everyday matter, please use the rear stairs to access the first floor. This will help us reduce wear and tear on the carpeted hall area and ensure that you do not mistakenly walk into a private function in the hall!
Therefore member fobs do not open the door at the top of the front stairs – think of the front door and stairs now as the ‘function’ entry to the boathouse and the rear door and stairs as the rowing and training entry to the building. For those who have been members for a few years you will recall that this was the arrangement for many years. It helps us keep the front entry stairs and the hall clean.
Continue reading “Access, Security and other Boathouse Information”

We have been waiting for the fire service main to be connected before the builders can hand over the boathouse to RRC. While the boathouse looks finished, the builders are still rectifying defects, a usual end of project process.
Member access to the  boathouse remains as only the boat bays and changerooms until handover. The boathouse may look completed, but it is still under the builders insurance and responsibility, not RRC’s. It also does not have a functioning fire service, hence our limited access.
SE Water has now confirmed that they will do the mains tapping next week and Lloyd Group have confirmed that they will have completed all works by Wednesday 1 October. The building surveyor will have all documentation ready on Wednesday to complete the handover to RRC.
RRC will then be able to start handing out fobs to those who have applied for them. Don’t worry if you don’t have a fob, you can still apply for one or just rely on other members of the squads to open up.

We will be moving back into the original part of the rowing shed next week which is fantastic.
We will be buying new furniture as part of the project so we need a hand on Friday morning to chuck out all the old tables and chairs and any other junk we have in the boathouse and you will get a sneak preview of how good it is. Time to be confirmed.
Once we are in, it is common to find some things don’t work quite properly. If this is the case, DON’T try to fix it. Everything is under warranty and builders’ guarantee and we will lose that if we try to fix things ourselves. If you find something does not work or does not seem right, please just email me on [email protected]. I can then follow up with the architects and builders.
Please wait until you are notified via this blog page before you start accessing the hall area. It’s tempting but it is still a building site until it is formally handed over!
Works this week:
–          Installing the concrete screed and then grass on the deck
–          Finishes to new stair
–          Finishes to paintwork
–          Completion of carpeting
–          Defects inspection and rectification process commences

Please note that there is no access to  the boathouse this Friday 22 August at any time as there will be cement screed poured inside the building preventing access.
Other than Friday, there will be no changes to access until after Friday 5 September when we hope to be given a provisional Certificate of Occupancy for the original part of the building.
We expect to have complete access to all areas of the new building in late September after the fire service main has been connected. Unfortunately this is reliant on scheduling by SE Water and cannot be brought forward.
The builders expect to complete works in the next 2 weeks and then defect resolution (a standard process) will occur in the week after, leaving us the boathouse ready for our use after 5 September. There is plenty of work still happening – the plywood ceiling in the new gym and classroom, painting, carpeting, finishing the balcony and pergola and general fitting off plus tidying up the external areas.
Thanks for everyone’s patience while the building works are happening. I think everyone will be wow-ed by the boathouse when we regain access.

Access continues to be restricted – members enter through the RRC bay and up the back stairs and may only access the changerooms. Thanks to everyone for observing the safety requirements of having building works ongoing while we use the building. It remains very important that no-one enters the building site section of the building.
The building is starting to look more like the finished article but there is still lots of work going on inside to get it finished off. The builders are still about 5 days behind schedule meaning that completion will be end of August. However, there are some external works that will be completed after this date as we have to replace the fire service main. This requires road excavation and is expected to be done in late September.
We expect to have power back after 14 August. Please note there will be no power at the boathouse on 13 August while the new power connection is made. Continue reading “Redevelopment Update 6 August”

We are pleased that we will have access to the changerooms again commencing this Thursday 24 July. The boathouse is still a building site so please note the following arrangements:
– The site will be opened by authorised persons only – Barry and Justin – as this requires access through the building site
– Entry for other members is through the roller doors into the boat bays
– To access the changerooms, go through the boat bay, up the back stairs
– Please leave via the boat bays and the authorised person will lock up
– Please do not attempt to access any other parts of the boathouse. The builder will hoard off and put up notices, but there will be doors that must not be entered by members.
– There may be restrictions on power and hot water. We are confirming these with the builder and will let you know. If so, we will request to continue access to Mercantile changerooms until we have full power and water back.
It is great that we will have the changerooms back ready for our season launch on Sunday morning. We look forward to seeing lots of people down.
MLC commence their rowing program on Thursday afternoon and are expected to be down some afternoons and Saturday mornings.
Works expected in the next 2 weeks:

• Carpenters will continue framing and plastering
• Concreter will screen terrace
• Plumber continuing rough in and external fit offs.
• Plasterer continuing to hang and stop plaster in both new and old areas.
• Stair 2 (rear stair) will be open to RRC/MLC as of 24^th July. This will provide access to the upstairs change rooms via ex Bay 2. Hoarding will be provided to prevent unauthorised access to the works areas. RRC/MLC should not access the work areas at any time unless under direction supervision of the Builder.
• Electrician will commence installation of light fittings. New switchboard will be installed
• Painter will continue painting in the old section.
• Floor coverings to old section will be completed.
• Bay 2 will be cleared out to provide safe access for RRC/MLC to the rear.

Anyone who has been down to the boathouse since we gave the builders exclusive access at the start of June will see that they are making good progress with the building works. The roof is on, pergola erected, old front stairs demolished, windows removed and so on. In the next two weeks the planned building works are as follows:
Week 1 commencing 9^th June

• Form Stair 1 and pour late in the week
• Electrical rough in at both levels
• Measure windows and roller shutters
• Continue carpentry to walls and ceilings
• Commence plumbing rough in

 Week 2 commencing 16th June

• Electrical rough in continues
• Plastering upstairs
• Blockwork to underside of stairs
• Plumbing rough in continues

At this stage we expect to have use of the boathouse again in mid July and for the building works to be completed in mid August, as planned.