Multipurpose option advised
The insurance bill for replacing Environment Canterbury’s (Ecan) quake-damaged central Christchurch headquarters could top $20 million.
And local government uncertainties, in the wake of Auckland’s merged ‘‘super city’’ council, has prompted Ecan staff to recommend rebuilding in a multipurpose, office style ‘‘suited to a number of different types of potential tenants’’.
A report considered by Ecan’s government-appointed commissioners behind closed doors in December stated the total replacement value of its three buildings in Kilmore St, including demolition and inflation costs, was $27,126,552.
From street level, Ecan’s interconnected buildings appear to form one building, but they are structurally independent.
The largest, the six-level Aoraki building, has already been demolished.
At this stage it is unclear if the four-storey Pegasus building would be repaired or replaced.
Those two buildings make up more than 90 per cent of the Ecan’s floor area at the site, so if the Pegasus building was pulled down the rebuild at Kilmore St would be substantial.
The single-storey Waitaha building, a purpose-built Civil Defence headquarters, has only minor damage and will be repaired.
Ecan deputy chief executive Wayne Thomas and project leader Neville Bishell, who penned the report, suggested the organisation return to the central city, despite possible planning changes limiting new buildings in central Christchurch to five storeys.
Options being considered include extending a new building to the street boundary and constructing a coherent building across the Kilmore St frontage, which would wrap around the Waitaha building.
The report said: ‘‘The only limitation that the site may provide is in regard to its geotechnical suitability to support a structure of sufficient size.’’
The regional council’s staff are not expected to return to the inner city until at least mid-2014.
The Thomas/bishell report, released to The Press after an official information request, warned that uncertainties about the future of local government needed to be considered when rebuilding.
‘‘A strategy of rebuilding in a multipurpose style, rather than a specialist civic building, affords flexibility and . . . is suited to a number of different types of potential tenants should the council’s needs change,’’ the report said.
Commissioners were reviewing ‘‘institutional arrangements’’, which might affect Ecan’s ‘‘accommodation requirements’’, the report said.
Local Government Minister Nick Smith last night described that approach as ‘‘prudent’’.
He said he had not had any direct discussions with Ecan commissioners on future appropriate structures for the regional council and local government in Canterbury.
He was interested in expanding the unitary council model but in an area like Canterbury where water is so critical and the alpine rivers span several districts it was ‘‘not an instant answer as some propose’’.
‘‘The Government has made no decisions about the future of Environment Canterbury and remains committed to consultation with the people of Canterbury before decisions are made,’’ he said.