Town hall cost likely to increase

The real cost to restore Wellington’s town hall is likely to exceed the projected $90 million.

Wellington city councillors yesterday voted to endorse a revamp of the 113-year-old building, which will see it transformed into an earthquake-strengthened national music centre. But the plan still depends on the council’s collaborative partners, Victoria University of Wellington and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO), stumping up $30m by the end of December.

Iona Pannett, the council’s city strategy committee chairwoman, said the $90m was a critical investment to retain the city’s title as the capital of culture, but warned costs were likely to rise.

‘‘It’s a buoyant construction market and this is an old building, and we just don’t know all the issues or what will pop up.’’

Work on the town hall will start in August 2018 and is hoped to be complete by June 2021.

The plan includes quake-strengthening the building to 100 per cent of code and improving the basement’s storage, access and toilets, and adding a goods lift.

The town hall will eventually by used for civic ceremonies, council meetings and also become home to the mayor’s office.

The plan still requires final sign-off from councillors at a meeting on Wednesday.

The plan is conditional on a successful fundraising campaign by the university and NZSO, as well as a decision on the long-term disposal of the Municipal Office Building. Getting rid of that building would effectively leave the council homeless.

In May, Victoria University’s council approved the initial funding of $10m for its contribution to the project’s first stage.

The NZSO’s board signed off its part of the project in April.

Councillors were told a survey of 800 Wellington region residents, conducted as part of the 2017-18 Annual Plan process, found 73 per cent supported earthquake-strengthening the town hall and creating a national music centre.

Wellington Mayor Justin Lester said the town hall was a worldclass venue and a big part of the city’s cultural identity. ‘‘Wellingtonians have told us clearly they want to see this city landmark reopened and made even better.’’

Victoria vice-chancellor Professor Grant Guilford said redeveloping the hall was part of an innovative project that would create a ‘‘powerful’’ three-way partnership.