In a media release yesterday, NZTU investigations coordinator Rhys Hurley says the council planned to "squander" $60.7million on a new headquarters.
Its budget had blown out by nearly $10m from the original $51m budgeted, Hurley says.
"Ratepayers are being asked to foot the bill for a project that’s spiralling out of control and is completely unjustified."
The release says its "reveal" of the $60.7m figure came from an official information request.
However, Lewers says that number’s been in the council’s long-term plan since last year, and the $10m increase was simply the result of building cost inflation as the proposal continued to be worked on.
There’s been no formal negotiations with NTP on a joint-venture development, and the council’s yet to decide if, or
where, the building will go ahead, he says.
Dubbed Project Manawa, the headquarters building is the first stage of a CBD civic and commercial centre — also including a performing arts centre, gallery, library and commercial properties — proposed for land fronting Stanley St.
The council entered a partnership agreement with NTP in 2019 to begin work on a master plan for the site.
A year ago, it narrowly voted to progress elements of the proposal, including land exchanges and seeking ministerial approval for the stopping of Ballarat St under the Public Works Act.
However, councillors instructedstaff to hold off on negotiations with NTP, and to consider alternative locations outside the CBD.
Lewers says the proposal will be next discussed at a public workshop on April 15.
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