South Brighton Community Centre demolition to begin

Demolition of the South Brighton Community Centre will begin today (Monday 21 January) and is expected to be completed early next month.

Christchurch City Council last month approved the demolition of the community centre at 74 Beatty Street, which has been closed since the 22 February 2011 earthquake.

Engineering advice shows the community centre has extensive earthquake damage. The Council has also received a Notice of Demolition from the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) because parts of the centre are considered dangerous. However, as the notice was only for a partial demolition of the building, Council approval to demolish the entire building was sought.

General Manager Community Services Michael Aitken says while the community has missed the facility since its closure, it is unfortunately too damaged to retain. South Brighton Community Centre is one of 30 priority projects which in September 2012 the Council approved for funding, further investigations and, where possible, repairs.

“Coming up with a long-term solution for the community centre is certainly important to the Council and this was recognised when it last year named the facility as one of its priority projects. It’s difficult for residents to see the building coming down but we’re pleased to be able to offer some clarity about the building’s future. We will continue to update residents as more information comes to hand.”

Future options for the site are continuing to be explored. However, rebuilding on the same site may be complex and expensive as it is Technical Category Three (TC3) land.

To see a copy of the engineering report for the community centre, or for more information about the Council’s Facilities Rebuild Plan project, visit www.ccc.govt.nz/facilitiesrebuild

- ENDS-

© Scoop Media

Mighty River: 'Mum And Dad’ Investors Myth Busted

Green Party research, confirmed by Treasury, shows that half of the shares in Mighty River Power that National sold to retail investors went to just 13,000 people and that 10 percent of the retail shares went to just 400 wealthy people and organisations, Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman said today.

The sale of Mighty River Power saw 113,000 retail investors, referred to as ‘mum and dad’ investors by the National Government, buy 26.9 percent of the company. Analysis by the Greens and Treasury shows that half of those shares were, in fact, purchased by fewer than 13,000 people who bought an average of nearly $35,000 worth of shares...

“The truth is that 98 percent of New Zealanders bought no shares at all. Half the retail shares went to just 0.3 percent of the population, and a tiny group of just 400 wealthy individuals and organisations got 10 percent of the retail shares. More>>