The Invercargill City Council Bluff Service Centre will be temporarily moved into the Bluff Town Hall ahead of the demolition of the Centre’s adjacent building, the Bluff Club Hotel.

The Club Hotel is set to be demolished next month to make way for the Bluff Oyster Festival in May.

The Service Centre at 98 Gore Street will close at noon on Thursday 28 March and for Good Friday, but will open on Saturday 30 March from 10am to 7pm, with NZ Post available until 1.30pm.

It will then close for Easter Sunday, Easter Monday and Southland Anniversary Day, then reopen at noon on Wednesday 3 April in the Bluff Town Hall at 18 Gore St.

Invercargill City Council Customer Services Manager Mark Radcliffe said all Council services would be available at the temporary location, as well as some NZ Post and library services, however, Kiwibank and Lotto services would not be available.

“The temporary move to the Town Hall will ensure the safety of the community and our team while still providing as many services as we can,” he said.

“For those requiring Kiwibank, our team would be more than happy to assist with using these services online, so you’re still welcome to pop down and see the team for assistance.

“Unfortunately to move quickly on this, access to full library services and retail store will also not be available during this time.”

While the Bluff Library will not be accessible, library books could still be ordered through the Invercargill Library and delivered to the temporary Bluff Service Centre location, Radcliffe said.

Radcliffe said the relocation of the Service Centre was estimated to be for a duration of two weeks but the community would receive an update on this.

“We thank the Bluff residents for their patience and understanding while we make this temporary move.”

Opening hours at the temporary location will be from 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday. It will not be open on Saturdays or Wednesday evenings during this time.

The following services will NOT be available at the temporary location:
Bill Payments
Waka Kotahi
IRD Applications
Kiwi Access Applications
Lotto
Kiwibank

The following NZ Post services will remain available at the temporary location:
Domestic postage
International postage using stamps as the payment method
Mail redirections
Mail Holds
Parcel drop off and collection
PO Box mail will move to a counter collection service
The street receiver outside the Bluff Service Centre will be closed, but there is a street receiver next to the Bluff Town Hall.