Frank Kitts Park upgrade now $30m
The cost of redeveloping Frank Kitts Park on Wellington’s waterfront has blown out to $30 million – triple that forecast less than two years ago.
The revelation came as city councillors successfully moved to separate a planned playground upgrade from the wider precinct plans, to prevent that upgrade from being further delayed.
City councillor Jill Day, who moved the motion to expedite the upgrade, said the playground project had been in the council’s plans for almost a decade.
However, it had been held back by legal challenges surrounding a proposed Chinese Garden also planned for the park, and the only way forward was for the playground to be dealt with separately, she said.
‘‘This playground has been in consultation documents for many years and has been in the plans since 2012. To me, that feels like quite a long time in the life of a child.’’
With existing resource consent and funding, the council needed to ‘‘do the right thing’’, Day said.
The Chinese Garden – or Garden of Beneficence – was granted resource consent in 2016, but the ruling was challenged through appeals to the Environment Court and High Court.
It was eventually given the green light in December 2018 but a lack of interest during the tender process again put the project on ice.
A sole bid quoted $5.1m, above the council’s initial forecast of about $3.5m, and way outside the $2.1m it had earmarked in its 2019-20 budget.
During yesterday’s council meeting, councillors agreed to carry over funding in its 2020-21 Annual Plan, and make up the shortfall by rearranging capital expenditure.
However, it was also revealed that the cost for the whole park upgrade – including a new playground, Chinese Garden, and refurbished lighthouse – had blown out from $10.5m to $30m.
That included $12m for the park redevelopment, $5m for the playground, $7.6m for the garden, and $5m to earthquake-strengthen the car park.
Council officers had proposed to report back in September with an assessment of the site and possible development options but councillors – Jenny Condie excluded – decided to sidestep that process by splitting off the playground project.
Day said waiting for a report would
only delay the project further.
‘‘I feel this is a project that we could see delivered this triennium, and that feels pretty unique because everything else seems to take a very long time.’’
Councillor Simon Woolf said the playground had safety issues but was incredibly popular.
‘‘We’ve had some amazing first kids play there. Prince George played there. Neve [Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s daughter] has played there.’’
Councillor Sean Rush said the playground needed to be brought in line with others he had visited around the country with his young children.
‘‘If we can justify play centres for adults – for conventions – then surely we can justify a bigger budget [for the Frank Kitts Park playground].’’
Mayor Andy Foster said he supported the idea provided landscaping costs could be reduced but not if ‘‘the sky is the limit’’.
The playground was built in 1989. Tenders will be sought within the next year for the upgrade.