Project will cost $92,000 more

Press, 26 June 1984, Page 6

Project will cost $92,000 more

The Riccarton town centre improvements project will now cost $92,000 more than estimated, the Riccarton Borough Council was told last evening. In a report to the works and reserves committee, the Town Clerk, Mr J. B. Skinner, said that stage one of the project had been more complex than was publicly appreciated. The experience of stage one had allowed more close estimating to be applied to stages two and three, he said.

The full completion of stage I is planned for July 19, he said. Mr Skinner said that the borough engineer, Mr P. Nichols, could now take over management of stages two and three, assisted by a temporary project co-ordi-nator and the borough superintendent. The respective consultants involved with the project would then be able to reduce their involvement and the overall fees budget would be within 10 per cent of the

total project cost, he said. Cr J. W. Warren said that he was concerned about the increase in costs but now the project had started it had to be finished. Cr M. N. Cooper said the council was lucky to have Mr Nichols as the consulting fees could be kept down. Tenders will now be called for stage two of the project. Noise control Armourguard Security, Ltd, would be employed by

the council on a six-month trial to deal with afterhours noise complaints, the council decided. The contract would be on the same basis as that for the Christchurch City Council and the Waimairi District Council. A budget of $l2OO will be allowed in the estimates to pay for the service. Emergency house The council has agreed to

the establishment of a refuge house for battered women and their children. The council will sign a lease from the Housing Corporation and will sub-lease to the Inter-church Community Care Committee. The committee will be responsible for the financial management of the house. The council has recommended that $l3OO be allowed in the 1984 to 1985 estimates for the project.