Tuesday 6 August 2013

Community, Recreation and Culture Committee key decisions

Christchurch City Council's Community, Recreation and Culture Committee met today.

The Committee made a number of key decisions. It will now make recommendations (except the approval of the Heritage Incentive Grants) to the full Council for consideration at its next meeting on 29 August.

* The committee has agreed the Sumner Community Centre, Museum and Library should be rebuilt on the site of the demolished facilities at 14-18 Wakefield Avenue. The committee will recommend to the full Council that it should allocate up to $10 million from its Betterment and Improvement Allowance to help fund the rebuild. If the Council confirms the rebuild of the facility on 29 August, stage one of the project will begin. This will include investigating concept designs for a new facility, cost estimates and community consultation. Council staff will also continue to investigate how the Returned and Services Association facility may be incorporated into the joint development.

* The committee received a report recommending the Sign of the Takahe, 200 Hackthorne Road, should be repaired to 67 per cent of the New Building Standard. It noted that it wanted more information to be included in the report recommending the repair of the building before it was considered by the Council on 29 August. This included the expected rent received from the building and more information about the recommended repair methodology, including any measures to ensure the building is protected against damage from future earthquakes.

* It was agreed the remainder of St Martin's Voluntary Library, 3 Wades Avenue, should be demolished. The committee also agreed in principle to ring-fence the insurance proceeds for a future community facility that includes space for the voluntary library. The building was significantly damaged in the earthquakes and has been mostly demolished under a CERA Section 38 Notice of Demolition. Council staff will continue to work with the community to look at the future of the facility.

* The committee will recommend the Governors Bay Community Hall, toilets and pottery shed, 1 Cresswell Avenue, should be demolished. The building is significantly damaged and insurers have agreed it is a total economic loss. The recommendation to demolish does not include the historic Pierman Library, which is on the same site. Council staff will work with the community to look at the future of the facility.

* The committee agreed Scott Park Petanque Club and Toilets in Mount Pleasant should be demolished. A replacement public toilet has been proposed as part of the planned redevelopment of Scott Park and the Coastal Pathway project. Portable toilets will be placed on site in the meantime.

* The committee received a monthly update on its Facilities Rebuild Plan Programme. It asked staff to identify where it may be able to approve the repair or rebuild facilities ahead of settling with insurers in order to speed up progress. A copy of the report is available at the link below.

* The committee approved a number of Heritage Incentive Grants for properties in New Regent Street. This includes a Heritage Grant of up to $33,864 for conservation and maintenance work for the Group 2 heritage buildings at 10, 12, 13 and 24 New Regent Street; another grant of up to $18,211 for conservation and maintenance work for the Group 2 Heritage building at 28 New Regent Street and a third grant of up to $7,068 for conservation and maintenance work for the Group 2 heritage buildings at 27-29 New Regent Street.

* The committee also approved a Heritage Incentive Grant of up to $3, 478 for conservation and maintenance work for the Group 3 heritage building 'Springbank' at 290 Riverlaw Terrace.

The agenda for today's meeting is online at: http://resources.ccc.govt.nz/files/TheCouncil/meetingsminutes/agendas/2013/August/CRAC6AUGUST2013AGENDAFULL.pdf

- ENDS -

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