Brownlee put freeze on Otakaro funding

Christchurch’s former rebuild minister used his powers to suspend Accessible City funding for more than a month, amid widespread discontent over the controversial street works.

The decision by Gerry Brownlee means Otakaro’s work will take longer to complete and cost more after contractors moved resources off construction sites until funding was reinstated.

Funding of Otakaro-led work was cut after central city business leaders – who were directly affected by new cycleways, reduced parking, street narrowing and project delays – threatened legal action if the anchor project was not halted.

Crown-owned Otakaro will now review plans for Colombo St and Armagh St next to Victoria Square in response to Brownlee’s funding freeze.

On April 12, it was reported Brownlee was threatening to halt funding if the Accessible City plan was not changed.

Current Greater Christchurch Regeneration Minister Nicky Wagner said Brownlee advised Otakaro on April 13 that funding for its Accessible City projects was suspended, pending a review of designs and construction methodology.

‘‘I have since considered an action plan developed by Otakaro and Christchurch City Council and am satisfied that meaningful improvements are being made to the planning and delivery of these projects,’’ Wager said in a statement. ‘‘Funding was reinstated on 19 May.’’ Concerns that led to funding being suspended were addressed in a joint action plan developed by Otakaro and the city council, which included ‘‘general changes in approach and specific changes to some projects’’.

‘‘For example, some of the build-outs on St Asaph St will be removed to provide extra space for on-street parking and help facilitate traffic flow.

‘‘Other build-outs will be altered to make it easier for drivers to parallel park,’’ Wagner said.

The council was set to reinstate about 25 car parks on St Asaph St. Changes to the street were blamed for having a detrimental affect on businesses.

A central city liaison group, including business and property owners as well as members of the public, was being established. Members of the group would be able to view work before it was completed and express their opinions.

An Otakaro spokesman said the company was completing road works next to Crown-led anchor projects.

These included Armagh and Colombo streets, next to Victoria Square, Manchester St from Kilmore St to Lichfield St, next to the east frame, and Durham St and Cambridge Tce, from Kilmore St to Tuam St, next to the justice precinct and Avon River precinct.

Otakaro was also completing an area known as Hospital Corner, which covered Tuam St, from Durham St to Hagley Ave, and parts of St Asaph, Antigua and Montreal streets, within the health precinct.

In response to the funding suspension, designs for the Armagh St and Colombo St works were being reviewed to figure out how to include more car parking.

Otakaro did not open any new work areas while funding was suspended and focused on finishing sections already under construction.

‘‘Some of the buildouts on St Asaph St will be removed to provide extra space for on-street parking and help facilitate traffic flow.’’ Nicky Wagner

Work on Hospital Corner was being rescheduled to work around other construction in the area. The rescheduling was under way before the funding freeze.

‘‘As the funding suspension altered the work programme it was necessary for the contractor to move some resources off site until funding resumed. This will add additional cost and time to the project which cannot yet be quantified,’’ the spokesman said.

‘‘Subsequent to resumption of funding, Otakaro is reviewing rescheduling of its An Accessible City projects, and is working through implementation strategies with its contractor.’’

The Crown has allocated about $50 million for the first phase of its work. Otakaro draws the money down on a quarterly basis to pay for completed work.

The company did not anticipate funding would be suspended again.

An Accessible City – a joint Christchurch City Council-Crown project of wide-ranging CBD traffic improvements – plans to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists and implement slower speed zones in some areas.

The controversial project has attracted criticism from politicians and central city business owners.