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Improved design for the hub poses new challenges
Improvements to the design of South Taranaki's the hub project have added $1.9 million to the budget, with construction cost escalation also helping push up the latest "ballpark" estimate to a total $24.26 million.
the hub project coordinator Phil Waite said groups who would be using the sports, events and recreation complex planned for Hicks Park had requested a range of design changes. The design team had responded by increasing changing room space by 55 percent and function/lounge area space by 40 percent. Toilets near the netball courts had been added to the design, along with additional storage for sports equipment.
"The conference room/function area has been greatly enhanced," said Mr Waite, "and there is now the ability to hold two separate functions at once."
He expects the changes to be welcomed by club representatives and others who made their views known at a stakeholders seminar two months ago.
"Taking those points into account has resulted in a significant increase in the footprint of the main building, so it is now not the same design as we has costed originally."
Escalation costs estimated at $700,000 also would be provided to cover potential increases in costs and other contingencies. "These result from a host of factors such as inflation, interest rates and the Construction Cost Index.
Mr Waite told councilors last week that there are several options the Council will need to consider:
- The Council increases its contribution beyond the $13.65 million already allocated
- Reduce project scope
- Increase fundraising targets
Views of councilors at the Policy Development committee meeting ranged from support for increasing the Council's contribution to reducing the scope of the project, and/or a mixture of the two. A report detailing the options will be presented to the September 3 Council meeting.
While councilors were disappointed at the extent of the cost increase, it was acknowledged that the basic philosophy behind the project has always been to 'Do it Once and Do it Right.' Mayor Mary Bourke said it would be wasteful spending $13.65 million on a facility that doesn't meet the users or community's needs because even more money would be needed to "fix things up" at a later stage.
The Council is meeting its share of the hub construction costs by taking out a loan to be repaid from interest earned on its Long Term Investment Fund. No rates money is being used to build the complex.
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