Ashburton CBD redevelopment ‘on time, on budget’
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.
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Poll: Should drivers retake the theory test every 10 years?
Drivers get where they need to go, but sometimes it seems that we are all abiding by different road rules (for example, the varying ways drivers indicate around a roundabout).
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48.4% Yes
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1.9% Other - I'll share below
Hero
“I was born and raised in war. To be honest, those are not good memories.
I really like Iran, and I really miss it, but I couldn’t be myself there. Even though my family didn’t like my decision, I left Iran. I promised myself that I would do whatever I can for all communities, especially for the kids, so they do not have the same experience I had.
I studied software engineering in Iran and left in 2006. I went to Malaysia and stayed in Kuala Lumpur for seven years. I was admitted to Lincoln University to do my PhD here, but unfortunately, I couldn’t afford the expenses. I requested a scholarship, but they told me I had to be there for six months first. So, I stayed in Malaysia and did my PhD in network security. In December 2013, I came to New Zealand with a work visa.
It took me a while to connect with the Iranian community here. I volunteered with the Multicultural Council, SPCA, and community patrol, and I established the Christchurch Iranian Society in 2017. Before that, I started working on Radio Toranj, the only Farsi-language radio show in New Zealand.
One of the reasons I started organizing cultural events was to showcase Iranian culture. I wanted to show people that we have delicious food, colorful dresses, traditional customs, and our own instruments. My hope was to show people that we are not what you see in the media.
I am working to involve all the communities that celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in the Nowruz festival in March 2025. We want to share this celebration not only with our community but with the public as well. It’s better when it’s shared.
I remember the first time someone from Dunedin called me and asked, Hero, can you help? Something happened, and they keep declining Iranian visa applications. When I heard that, I felt insulted. We are still human, so how can they do that?
Through this journey, I’ve learned a lot. Every single day, people with different cases call me, and I try to share my knowledge and guide them as much as I can.
I have received several awards, including the Christchurch Civic Award and an Award of Recognition for my contributions to the community during the pandemic. In 2021, I established Canterbury Kia Ora Academy, a charitable trust. Through this charity, I can help other communities as well, not just the Iranian community.”
- Hero
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
www.humansofchch.org......
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