Bus board sale could delay next rates rise

Press, 21 August 1979, Page 6

Bus board sale could delay next rates rise

The Christchurch Transport Board will probably be able to avoid raising its fares and rates next year if it can sell Carruca House by September. The board at its meeting yesterday decided to try to sell Carruca House, in Cathedral Square, and move its offices to the Ferry Road depot. A board member, Mr M. O. Holdsworth, said that if the building could be sold for a satisfactory price, the capital could be used to build adequate offices at the depot, and the balance to pay outstanding debts. This would reduce rate demands by between $250,000 and $325,000 over the next four years and allow further rate reductions in subsequent years. The- proposal would also move the board’s administrative section to the depot where it most logically should be, he said. The sale of Carruca House

would be subject to certain conditions. The adjacent town shed site would be retained by the board as a buspark handy to the central point of bus routes; The board would also want to lease the first-floor cafeteria. Mr T. N. D. Anderson said that any surplus capital from the sale of the building should not be treated as a “windfall” but be invested in the longterm interests of' the community. He suggested the surplus be used for special projects such as establishing new transit systems for the city. The board’s chairman (Mr D. J. Kelleher) said the surplus should be used for the immediate benefit of the people of Christchurch, and not for something the board was not sure of. Mr Kelleher emphasised that any sale would be subject to a suitable offer and to the terms recommended.