An agreement between the Hurunui District Council and the Government has resulted in part of the old Queen Mary Hospital in Hanmer Springs being secured for public ownership.
The 15.5ha site is owned by the Canterbury District Health Board and dates back to the establishment of a Soldiers' Hospital in 1916. The hospital facilities closed in 2004.
Since the late 1990s, the council has been negotiating with the District Health Board and Ngai Tahu to acquire a 4.8ha site for a historic and recreation reserve.
The Government has now agreed to secure a 6ha site, including three historic buildings, from the health board and then vest the land with the council.
