Progress with 30 priority projects outlined
Christchurch City Council’s Community, Recreation and Culture Committee has today received an update on progress with 30 facilities prioritised last month for funding, further investigation and, where possible, repairs.
The report outlined progress with the facilities that are part of the Council’s top 30 projects for immediate action under its Facilities Rebuild Plan project (click here to see a list of 30 priority projects, which are not in any particular order).
The committee received the report and will also recommend to the full Council that it should develop a social housing repair and rebuild plan as a priority.
Repairs are already underway on the Whale Paddling Pool in New Brighton and the Christchurch Botanic Gardens Paddling Pool, with the pools scheduled to re-open on Saturday 17 November.
Investigations are continuing on the rest of the 30 priority facilities. This includes progressing engineering assessments, discussions with insurers, looking at repair and strengthening options or, in some cases, reviewing the economics of repairing compared to demolishing a building.
Committee Chair Yani Johanson says he is pleased that good progress is being made on the Council’s top 30 projects. The recommendation to Council around developing a social housing plan will send another clear signal that rebuilding and repairing units is a top Council priority. “We know that staff are continuing to progress engineering assessments on units and we welcome that repairs have now begun to five social housing units. However, it is important that a holistic plan for the repair and rebuild of our housing units is prepared so that the Council can give clarity around timeframes and look at how we might speed up units getting re-opened or rebuilt."
Some of the key findings in the report include (recommendations around the future of these facilities are still to be made to, and approved by, the Council):
- Further damage assessments are needed on the Sydenham Preschool to determine the economics of repairing versus demolishing the building. It is possible that the Tuam Street or QEII Early Centres, neither of which are currently being used, could be re-located to the site if the building was to be demolished. A separate report with recommended options will be presented to Council for approval once investigations are completed.
- The South Brighton Community Centre is considered to be uneconomic to repair and a report with a recommendation for it to be demolished will be presented to the Council. Council staff are currently looking at options for the longterm future of the facility.
- Assessments are continuing on Waltham Pool and repair options and potential costs are to be considered. This pool will not re-open in time for this summer. A separate report with recommendations will be presented to elected members for approval once this work is completed.
- Engineering assessments are also continuing on the Lyttelton Pool (Norman Kirk Memorial Pool). These assessments will be followed by engagement with the community, the development of repair options and costs. The pool will not re-open in time for the 2012/13 summer. Recommendations will be presented to the Council for approval once this work is finished.
- The Gaiety Hall in Akaroa will need significant repairs. The facility will not re-open in time for the 2012/13 summer. A report with recommendations around the future of the facility will be presented to the Council for approval.
- The Akaroa Museum is unlikely to re-open in time for the 2012/13 summer. Investigations into the future of the facility are continuing. Temporary propping of the facility may be possible but permanent repair and strengthening work may be difficult. A separate report with recommendations will go to the Council for approval.
- The Akaroa Service Centre requires structural repairs and will also not re-open this summer. Conceptual strengthening schemes have been developed and, although recommendations are still to be made to elected members, it is hoped the facility will be able to re-open for the 2013/14 summer.
- Repairs can begin on the Lyttelton Visitors Centre and toilet once a neighbouring shed has been removed. A timeframe for reopening is still to be determined.
- Council staff are progressing plans to look at how more social housing units can be built on six existing sites. A report with recommendations will be presented to elected members in due course.