Fendalton Service Centre re-opens

Fendalton Service Centre has re-opened today (Monday 2 April) after closing in November last year because it needed earthquake repairs and strengthening.

The Council gave approval for earthquake repairs and strengthening to 100 per cent of the New Building Standard (NBS)*  to go ahead at the Fendalton Library and Service Centre in February. The adjoining library remains closed as repairs and earthquake strengthening are continuing in that part of the building. It is expected to re-open in late May.

The library and service centre closed in November last year after the results of a Detailed Engineering Evaluation (DEE) assessment showed earthquake strengthening and repairs were needed. The engineering assessment was carried out as part of the Council’s commitment to carry out more intensive engineering assessments of its commercial buildings under its Facilities Rebuild Project.

Council General Manager Public Affairs Lydia Aydon says it is great to have the service centre operating again.

“We know that people have been missing the convenience of being able to pop into their nearest service centre to pay their rates or make other payments. Although part of the building remains closed, it is wonderful to be able to start offering our community access to these services again.”

Libraries and Information Unit Manager Carolyn Robertson says work is progressing well in the part of the building that houses the library. “We are looking forward to welcoming back many of the customers we haven’t seen since it closed last year. While we were initially aiming for a June re-opening, it is now looking likely that we will be able to open the library again by the end of May, which is just brilliant.”

The service centre will be open on weekdays from 9am-5pm.

Papanui Library and Service Centre, 35 Langdons Road, and Upper Riccarton Community and School Library, 71 Main South Road, are the closest libraries to Fendalton that are open.

* A building which is below 34 percent of the NBS is considered to be earthquake-prone. The Council has set a minimum of 67 percent of the NBS for all the buildings it owns.