Waimakariri’s capital works ‘well behind schedule’ amid labour shortage
From local democracy reporter Adam Burns:
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Building managers at the Waimakariri District Council are disappointed the delivery of major capital works continues to lag behind as they contend with an arduous construction environment.
Several projects within its $70 million capital works programme remain significantly off the pace as resourcing constraints and supply chain factors continue to stretch the council thin.
There is concern the programme could be as low as 66 per cent done by the end of June, after a quarterly update was presented to the council’s audit and risk committee on Tuesday.
"Resourcing is certainly hitting and affecting our ability to deliver the programme," council senior engineering adviser Don Young said.
Utilities and roading manager Gerard Cleary said the council needed to be careful of overcommitting when developing the annual plan, as resourcing issues 'would not be going away overnight".
"We’ve lost quite a few senior engineers and in the consulting industry they're equally as stretched," he said.
"We are disappointed with how this year's capital works delivery is going."
Cleary said council had taken on graduate-level staff to help with the workload.
"It's really hard to get senior engineers and that's probably where we've suffered the most," he said.
"It's a crazy market out there."
Adding further headaches was pricing issues as a result of a tight construction market, contractor availability and "extreme pressure" on the supply chain.
"Most of the recent tenders have had one or two respondents only, and almost all of them are significantly over budget," the capital works quarterly report said.
Councillor Sandra Stewart was unsympathetic at the meeting to the issues and appealed for assurances upcoming work would be completed on time.
"I don’t mean to put the boot in ... but the refrain is very familiar," she said.
"What process is being put in place that will virtually guarantee that you deliver far better than this, given the environment out there."
Deputy mayor Neville Atkinson jumped to the defence of staff and said many of the factors were out of their control.
"How you're even going to price something, or get a timeline out of a contractor. It is just about impossible," he said.
"There’s some realities around this which we have to accept, that in the next year or two there will be movement and we may not get some things done, because of what is out there in this environment.
"No resourcing, higher prices and no guarantee of timelines ... these guys are managing all of it the best they can."
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Heritage gem or dangerous burden? Bowling club’s dilemma with historic pavilion
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
A Rangiora sports club is frustrated with the increasing maintenance and insurance costs of its 113-year-old pavilion, which can't be demolished due to its historic importance.
The Rangiora Bowling Club approached the Waimakariri District Council last year for help, but was yet to find a satisfactory solution for the pavilion.
It is registered with Heritage New Zealand and listed in the Waimakariri District Plan, leaving the club with few options.
The club’s ex-president Norman Hewett said the pavilion on Good St, north of the town centre, is unsafe and no longer fit for purpose.
Hewett said the council has been supportive and Heritage New Zealand has offered advice, but no funding.
‘‘Everybody thinks the building is worth preserving, but there is a cost and it shouldn’t be put on the bowling club.
‘‘As far as we are concerned it is not fit for purpose and we want to know how we can get round that.
‘‘We want to know what the community thinks and if they want to retain it, are they willing to pay for it?’’
The club has formed a sub-committee to explore what options are available.
Sub-committee member Rodger Wilton said the club has been unable to find any record that the club had a say when the building was given heritage status.
Built in 1911, the pavilion served the Rangiora Bowling, Tennis and Croquet Club, which originally shared the site.
It cost 945 pounds and was opened on October 28, 1911.
The three clubs purchased 1.25 acres on the corner of Blackett and Good streets in April 1905, but later parted company, with tennis and croquet moving to new sites.
While no quotes have been sought, Hewett believed it would cost more than $1 million to bring the pavilion up to code.
Ideally the club would like to demolish the pavilion so it can upgrade its main building and remain on site.
The stairwell was non-compliant and there was no wheelchair access, meaning the club was unable to use the upstairs facilities.
There are loose tiles on the roof which need replacing.
An attached building behind the pavilion is sufficient to meet the needs of the 140 members and for hosting the largest bowls tournament in North Canterbury, Hewett said.
He said the club is open to all options, including a land swap or selling to a developer with the expertise to restore the pavilion.
Waimakariri District Council community and recreation manager Chris Brown said the council is working through various opportunities with the bowling club as part of a feasibility study.
‘‘There are a lot of options to consider. Each have various financial, social and operational implications.’’
Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga said it had ‘‘expressed support for the adaptive reuse of the building and supported the club’s intention to investigate options for the pavilion and the associated land parcel’’.
The Rangiora Bowling Club is keen to hear the views of the community. Email rangiorabowling@gmail.com.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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