Slow progress over site for new ORC head office

A NEW Otago Regional Council head office in Dowling St is still under consideration but there is little movement on securing the preferred site.

After a decade of controversy and delays, an ORC committee recommended a car park in Dowling St as the site for a new Dunedin head office in June 2016.

The site is owned by the Dunedin City Council but there is no sign of a sale.

Regional council executive officer Ian McCabe said discussions for the head office were continuing with the city council, but had not yet resulted in a confirmed purchase.

‘‘As with any large development, the project as a whole must suit everyone’s needs and those needs are part of an ongoing dialogue between the ORC and the DCC.

‘‘DCC staff are discussing the potential for the ORC to purchase the site; however, the final decision on whether or not any transaction proceeds rests with the respective councillors,’’ Mr Ian McCabe said.

Staff were still working on getting to the point where the council could formally consult on relocating its head office, he said.

The two councils joining forces on a multilevel car park building was discussed by the ORC last year.

‘‘Parking is one of the matters included in ongoing discussion,’’ Mr McCabe said.

The regional council bought a larger waterfront piece of land in the Birch St/Kitchener St area for a new head office more than 10 years ago but nothing eventuated. Last year the regional council investigated selling the land to the city council for development.

Staff were still considering options for the land, but nothing was confirmed at this stage, Mr McCabe said.

Dunedin City Council chief executive Sue Bidrose said she expected to have conversations with the regional council this week on the potential sale of the Dowling St site.

It was still interested in the arrangement, she said.

‘‘Nothing’s changed from our end from when we talked to them about it last year.’’