Welly’s hottest beachfront property for sale
Wellington’s hottest beachfront property is up for grabs.
The Band Rotunda on Oriental Parade may yet see its doors reopen as the Wellington City Council looks to put it on the market in February.
After getting into a state of disrepair, the historic building was closed in 2012. But the council is now considering its options and putting out a call for proposals on its future.
Lambton ward councillor Iona Pannett, who holds the infrastructure portfolio, said the council would consider all proposals, including offers to buy or lease the Band Rotunda.
It is understood the council is desperate to get rid of it and it was just a matter of finding someone who wanted to take it on.
There were three possibilities on the table for the council: removing the rotunda, leaving just a horseshoe-shaped protrusion; removing the structure down to the original (heritage) level; or stripping it back to the heritage level and building a new top.
It is understood a 1980s addition has concrete cancer, caused when steel reinforcing in a concrete slab begins to rust.
The heritage part was fine but flooded during king tides.
The council had been looking at the earthquake state of its buildings. The rotunda, which is listed as category 2 by Heritage New Zealand, was not quakeprone, Pannett said.
The council will make a request for Information, for proposals and for quotes and bids.
Any options would have to be in the short-to-medium term because of the implications of climate change, which meant it had a shorter lifespan than other buildings, Pannett said. ‘‘Of course any solution would need to be at a minimum cost to ratepayers.’’
Lambton ward councillor Nicola Young would like to see something like Sydney’s Icebergs dining room and bar at Bondi Beach, but that would need someone who was prepared to sink in a lot of money with little prospect of making any profits.
‘‘It could be wonderful; it’s currently an eyesore and liability. Oriental Bay deserves better.’’
Oriental Bay Residents’ Association president Andy Thomson said members would like to find out more about future proposals.
‘‘We would like to see something with a community benefit.’’