The Dunedin City Council is facing a nearly $10 million maintenance bill to fix dilapidated council-owned flats and other properties in its portfolio.
The bill, detailed in a council staff report, includes an expected $1 million for repairs to replace the membrane of the central city library’s roof, which has failed.
Another $5 million is earmarked to fix unspecified problems with a block of council-owned housing in Melville St, and a further $1.8 million is allocated to improve nine council flats in School St that have "various issues relating to moisture and access".
A $1.7 million contract to renew and maintain the lifts in the council’s civic centre and central city library has been awarded to international company Kone.
Tenders are also being assessed for a refurbishment of the council’s Civic Centre offices, although the budget is not yet available.
The details are contained in a council staff report to be discussed at today’s DCC infrastructure services and networks committee meeting.
Council infrastructure and networks acting general manager Leanne Mash was not available for comment on Friday. DCC property manager David Bainbridge, responding by email late on Friday, would only say the library roof was 50 years old and "showing signs of its age".
"There are a couple of minor leaks, but these are being managed and the collections are not at risk."
Details of the Civic Centre refurbishment were not yet available, but the Otago Daily Times reported last year the costs were expected to be "substantial".
Council chief executive Sue Bidrose said at the time the Civic Centre refurbishment could involve everything from new carpets and replacement windows to a new floor configuration and modernised IT systems.
Mr Bainbridge said the scope of the work had not changed but the council was "assessing the tenders now, so the contract price is not available at this stage".
The latest costs emerged months after the ODT also reported in March the department faced a budget blowout of more than $2 million.
The blowout was fuelled by an exodus of staff under former manager Kevin Taylor, amid claims of bullying and poor performance, which led to consultants being brought in to plug vacancies at extra cost.
Complaints from building tenants about deferred maintenance had added another $609,000 to the bill.
Mr Taylor’s replacement, Dr Laura McElhone, left in March to take up a new role, but predicted at the time the figures would get worse before the end of the financial year.
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Comments
That 20mill for a footbridge is looking more unjustified and stupid every day....
Nah, mate. That bridge will provide shelter for a whole lot of citizens requiring social housing. Besides, what is more important that our Mayor getting to jet around the planet on his jollies, and us getting a pretty bridge.
This is what happens when maintenance is delayed. The inial apparent cost grows and grows. Look at the cost increases due to the Urora power pole saga. Cost deferrment is usually instigated by financial controllers who have no training nor understanding of the cost of deferred maintenance. A good example is the Ward block at the Hospital. However, maintenance management and contractors are also not trained in how to develop a cost in $$$$$ for deferring maintenance.
Guess we're going to have to settle for the "cheap" version of the harbour footbridge ... bugger !!
Maybe they could just paint a foot bridge on the ground, like they do with the roundabouts.!
Are they still deferring the stadium maintenance?
The life span of the roof panels must be getting close to expiry too....
This council has to go,the money hole is getting deeper and deeper for the ratepayer this has to stop.
This is another nail in the coffin for Dunedin and more evidence of the Mickey mouse outfit Cull has been running for 3 terms, The Mayor, Councillors and senior management of the DCC are responsible for this, they work for the people of Dunedin, are the care takers and oversee the running of the town which they have failed in big time. IMO they (the Mayor and councillors) are relying on Dunedin once being a blue collar town now with employment concerns, they think people are stupid. Sure some of this has occurred before their time but they are mostly long term in the seat , they would have known what has been done or not done. They all attend meetings and should of had status reports given from departments if not then why no either way they have failed you people of Dunedin, IMO this is just smoke and mirrors, they would have known a while back about this. As mentioned previously Deferred maintenance costs big time (google it) around 7% compounded ever year) so these bean counters who have saved coin, got the big bonus for saving coin years ago, all smoke and mirror now costing even more money for Dunedin. It is time that Dunedin protested to get this council kicked out.