Ashburton CBD redevelopment ‘on time, on budget’

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
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Ashburton's CBD redevelopment project will be completed on time and on budget - that being the new time and new budget.

At this week’s Council Activity Briefings, councillor Angus McKay congratulated the infrastructure services team for delivering the project on time and on budget.

However, councillor John Falloon queried that assessment as he said the original budget for the redevelopment was $15 million plus a contingency sum of 10 per cent.

“That would take the value of the project to $16.5m,” Falloon said.

“Now we are at a financial completion of 95 per cent and so far we have spent $17,126,641.”

He said the other 5 per cent would take the total project cost over $18m.

Infrastructure services group manager Neil McCann said during the course of the project, the council had approved additional contingency to a total of 20 per cent “to accommodate all those extra costs” from scope changes and delays.

“We have maintained total expenditure of the contract under the approved contingency amount which is around about the $18m figure.”

McCann said once the costs were finalised upon full completion he would present that to the council in March, but was adamant it would be under budget.

“It will be under the total approved budget, including the contingencies that took into account those extra scope changes and delays due to Covid."

The overall project has been completed, in November, except for the installation of the parking sensors, which are expected to be installed by March.

A snag list has been prepared detailing the minor repairs that are required by the contractors, Tru Line Civil, that are being addressed this month.