Council won’t reveal Hornby project cost
The Hornby pool, library and service centre will not be downsized despite the $39.9 million project facing a jump in costs.
Christchurch City Council will not say how much Matatiki: Hornby Centre will now cost to complete, citing commercial sensitivity. A report detailing ‘‘challenges on the project’s budget and timeframes’’ was discussed by councillors during the public excluded part of Wednesday’s council meeting.
In a statement sent out after the meeting, the council said the facility would continue to be delivered to scope in spite of challenges arising from Covid-19 and supply chain issues.
The cost to build the facility had already increased from the original $34m budget.
Councillor Sam MacDonald said councillors had requested chief executive Dawn Baxendale release the information once it was no longer commercially sensitive. Mayor Phil Mauger said in the statement that it was positive to confirm the way forward for the new facility.
‘‘Like many large infrastructure projects around the globe, the construction of Matatiki has been affected by things like supply chain delays, price escalations and staff shortages due to illness.
‘‘In spite of these challenges, we are able to deliver the project to scope, which is good news.’’
The 4000m2 facility at Kyle Park will have a library, creative activities room, a lane pool, a hydrotherapy pool, a learn-toswim pool, a toddlers’ wet play area, a spa pool, a customer services zone and a cafe.
The hydrotherapy pool was a last-minute addition following pressure from the community.
The council earlier agreed to put in $2.5m, with the Hornby Rotary Club and the Greater Hornby Residents’ Association raising the remaining $1.4m.
The community will also have to wait a bit longer for the facility to open. Work started in November last year and was due to be finished early next year but the completion date has now been pushed back to December 2023.
The centre will not open to the public until early 2024, once the site has been fitted out with furnishings, IT equipment and other fixtures.
Piling, the floor slab and foundations, and pre-cast concrete and steel portals have been erected above the library space.
Work is also under way on the foundations for the plant room, changing facilities and foyer areas. New councillor Mark Peters, who has been campaigning for a pool to be built in Hornby for years, said he was pleased to see the project going ahead at full scope.
The facility is one of many to face cost increases recently.
The cost to build Christchurch’s new Court Theatre has skyrocketed by 55% or $20m to $56m – with the city council pouring another $16m into the project.
The cost to build Christchurch’s new stadium, Te Kaha, jumped $150m earlier this year from $533m to $683m.