Drainage Board To Build New Offices

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29339, 19 October 1960, Page 16

Drainage Board To Build New Offices

Rejecting a proposal that it build a multi-storey building in Cambridge terrace and let office space not needed for its own staff, the Christchurch Drainage Board last evening agreed to build new office premises on the land it already owns, letting any surplus space not required in the meantime.

The chairman (Mr F. R. Price) said the board’s likely requirements were three storeys with basement parking. The board owns three properties on the site—23l, 233 and 235 Cambridge terrace. It was two years since the board adopted a report which draw attention to the inadequacy and unsuitability of the present premises and the difficult situation that would arise if a fire destroyed plans at present scattered throughout the building, a special committee reported. The continued growth of the board's work had certainly not lessened the need for early action, and no time should be lost in planning new office accommodation. Three steps were open to the board—to build just sufficient for its own requirements: sufficient for present and estimated future requirements, any surplus being let in the meantime: and considerably in excess of requirements with a view to letting one or more floors to tenants. “More Economical” Reporting on multi-storey buildings, the secretary (Mr T. A. Tucker) and Mr H. F. Page, the chief engineer (operations) said there was no doubt that if suitable rentals were assured a multi-storey building was a more economical proposition. They gave as an example a building where three storeys would have cost an estimated £69.000, whereas the available floor space could be practically doubled by building a six-storey building at an estimated cost of £114.000, or £15.000 for each additional storey of 3000 square feet.

As a business venture, the multi-storey building would have advantages, but the matter might be determined in the first instance

by the extent of the boards powers under its act. and in the later stages the Local Authorities Loans Board would have the final say in any case. Of the board's requirements, they concluded that three floors would be necessary.

On the basis of costs of other new Christchurch buildings and an assumption that a substantial amount would be realised by the sale of the board's Hereford street freehold, they considered that a loan of £106.000 to £ 125.000 would be needed to finance a building adequate for the board's needs with three floors of an average area of 7000 square feet. A loan of that size, if spread over the board's whole district, would cost up to £7OOO to £8750 in annual charges. Mr T. D. Flint, who said Christchurch was the most rapidly expanding city in New Zealand, and that members in building for the future should think of 20 or 25 years ahead, proposed that provided it was within its powers the board should build a multistoreyed building with space for letting. “Our work would have been greatly facilitated in the last few years had we been able to have all the staff under one roof,’’ said Mr Price. “This is not a matter of a luxury but a necessity.” There could be some objection that a local authority should not enter into competition with private landlords. Mr Price said, but if the building could be made self-supporting the ratepayers' money would be saved. Board's Duty “It is the duty of the board to provide adequate accommodation for the staff, and that is as far as the duty goes,” Mr R. C. Neville said. "It is quite wrong that we should gamble with the ratepayers’ money—and we don't know what the future will bring.” The Lyttelton Harbour Board was “on the right lines” in bringing in revenue from its building, said Mr R. H. Stillwell. “That is what the ratepayers want—relief of the rating burden.” Mr Neville: Why not put up two buildings and make more profit. The Harbour Board was more of a trading organisation than the board and could not be compared, Mr K. A. White said. The board agreed to engage an architect to prepare preliminary drawings and estimates to enable an approach to be made to the Local Authorities Loans Board for a loan for the project