The Hastings District Council is putting aside seven million dollars for strengthening work needed on the Hawke's Bay Opera House.

The facility has been closed most of the year after it was deemed an earthquake risk in March.

It's likely to stay shut for around two years while strengthening work is done.

Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule says they've contracted Holmes Consulting to prepare a report on the building to determine cost and scale of work needed.

He says councillors will make a final decision, depending on the details of the report.