The Star: May 03, 2018

The Star Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Thursday May 3 2018 5
Local
News
Now
Fire rages, homes at risk
Sports facility costs breakdown
• By Bridget Rutherford
HOW MUCH some of the
cosmetic changes will save to
claw back the Metro Sports
Facility’s $75 million “budget
blow out” have been revealed.
Figures provided to The
Star show
certain cosmetic
changes, such
as glazing, external
cladding
and an entrance
canopy, will
save millions.
On Friday,
Megan
Woods
Greater
Christchurch
Regeneration
minister Megan Woods,
alongside Mayor Lianne Dalziel,
announced the detailed design
for the central city facility had
been revised.
The estimated cost had been
reduced by $50 million through
cosmetic changes and the procurement
approach, Dr Woods
said.
Removing the south entrance
canopy on the original design
is estimated to save $500,000-
$700,000.
Windows and solar control
blinds in the sports hall have
been scrapped to remove the
COMING: The Government says cost saving changes to
the Metro Sports Facility design will allow it to open in
2021.
chance of sunlight glare on the
courts, saving about $90,000-
$100,000.
The cladding elements will be
redesigned, which is expected to
save about $3 million.
Outdoor stone paving would
be changed to concrete paving
to drop the price from $525 per
sq m to $230 per sq m.
The indoor bluestone paved
floors, which would have cost
$350 per sq m, have been
scrapped for a different product,
such as tiles, to reduce the cost
to $200-$290 per sq m.
Otakaro has revised the
detailed design of the Metro
Sports Facility, and it is ready to
go to market to confirm a final
cost with a completion date of
2021.
Other cost savings were leaving
out the childcare facility and
outdoor sports area, downsizing
the car park, and fitting out the
Aquatic Sensory Experience
space through funding sources.
In November, Dr Woods
put the facility on hold and
scrapped contractor Leighs
Cockram Joint Venture because
the budget was blowing out.
She told The Star the cosmetic
savings meant the Government
was getting the best value for
taxpayer money.
“To allow a $75 million budget
blowout on a facility that should
have been open two years ago
is just another example of the
mess the previous Government
left in Christchurch.
“What disappointed me is that
in failing to provide the political
leadership and keeping costs
under control, the project has
not been achievable until now
and we are staring at a blank
section where there should be a
sporting facility.”
National’s greater Christchurch
regeneration spokeswoman
Nicky Wagner said while
cosmetic changes would have
given a higher quality finish, her
concern was with the childcare
facility and Aquatic Sensory
Experience space.
“She [Dr Woods] might have
saved $10 million or so. But
waiting for six months has probably
cost her three to five times
more than that.”
Ms Wagner said there would
have only been a budget blowout
if the design was not changed,
which the previous Government
planned to do.
“She has done just exactly
what I would have done, but I
would have done it in September
if I was elected back as minister.”
•Wagner column, page 21
in brief
Bugman now a
New Zealand citizen
Ruud Kleinpaste, the wellknown
Bugman, has finally
become a New Zealand citizen.
Dr Kleinpaste, 65, was granted
citizenship by after having lived
in New Zealand for 40 years. He
was presented with citizenship at
a ceremony officiated by Mayor
Lianne Dalziel on Monday. Dr
Kleinpaste began the radio talk
back show, Ruud’s Awakening
and featured on Maggie’s Garden
Show during the 90s. He also
worked on the television the
documentary series The Enduring
Land.
Call to coincide square
development
Spark is calling for any upgrade
to Cathedral Square to coincide
with the opening of its new
Christchurch headquarters next
year. In his submission on the
city council’s draft long term
plan Spark head of South Island
Paul Deavoll urged it to include
funding to complete the southeast
quadrant of the square by
the end of 2019. He said the new
Spark building at 2 Cathedral
Square was due to open in August
next year with 450 workers. The
building at 9 Cathedral Square
would open at the end of 2019.
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