Regional theatre

I have not seen any information of geotech reports regarding the suitability of the Victoria St site proposed for the new Hamilton theatre.

Two years ago, as a resident in River Rd, on the east riverbank, I experienced a huge slip from my section into the Waikato River. The EQC repaired this slip at a cost of $250,000. The engineers who assessed this slip declared, ‘‘Waikato city riverbanks are unstable for buildings and would not be eligible for consent nowadays.’’

I also notice that some residents on the opposite bank from me are reinforcing their riverfront sections. Parts of the central city riverbank paths are frequently closed through slips. Therefore, I question the wisdom of building a large structure on the Waikato riverbank.

I believe that no geotech report would pass this site as suitable for a large building project on the Victoria St bankside. Surely there is a geotech investigation being undertaken to allay concerns regarding this matter. I look forward to seeing the results of this report published as soon as possible. Maxine Hodgson, Hamilton

Kelvyn Eglinton, of Momentum Waikato, replies: As part of the design process for the Waikato Regional Theatre, an extensive geotechnical investigation programme has been commissioned and is ongoing as we progress through detailed design phases. Results from the initial investigations have guided the design team in establishing the site being excavated and the building situated toward the back into the bank, away from the river’s edge.

The main portion of the building is placed on a large piled reinforced concrete raft slab that reaches stable excavated ground. In areas where the buildings may be closer to the edge of the bank, these sections of the building have been placed on piles which extend below any surface level soils. These piles are tied back into the raft to provide additional robustness to the building. As we continue with design detail, the level of information and data supplied continues to support the confidence our engineers have over the site stability. This is an extensive construction, as opposed to the residential or walkway examples identified by Ms Hodgson in her letter to the editor.

Those examples are reflective of issues associated with surface soil erosion and not of foundations at depth, required for a building of this scale and are not suitable for direct comparison. Following Ms Hodgson firstly writing to the media, then contacting council, contact was finally made with the actual project directors. We are planning to meet and clarify these issues and provide expert advice to address her concerns. We are pleased that Ms Hodgson is showing support for the project by ensuring correct information is made to the public and assisting the project in this regard.

All information has been made public and is available on the Momentum Waikato website. However, we are more than pleased to speak to people if they have any queries and present to groups on any issue. We thank Ms Hodgson for helping the Waikato Regional Theatre get correct information to the public as the support for this project continues to rapidly increase.