Five major Post Office projects begun this year

Press, 4 July 1985, Page 24

Five major Post Office projects begun this year

Capital investment projects in Christchurch are discussed today by TESSA WARD as she continues her series on the Post Office.

The Post Office has begun work on five major capital investment projects in Christchurch this year, apart from its telecom investments. Motorists on Blenheim Road may already have noticed the large new supply branch complex going up on Post Office land in front of its building depot. Under the supervision of the Ministry of Works, a private contractor is building a large-bulk store to house telecom equipment and other Post Office supplies. The existing storage space for the supplies is distributed between buildings on Kingsley Street, Waltham Road, Galbraith Avenue in Avonside, and a leased building at Weedons air base. The Christchurch district Chief Postmaster, Mr Syd Bradley, said the new building would allow the Post Office to.-vacate its Avon-

side and Weedons air base buildings.

“This first stage of the new supply branch complex is expected to be finished in September at a cost of about $1 million,” he said. "Stage two of the complex, for construction later, will include an administration block and a smaller retail supply store.” An important Post Office development this year is an enlargement of the Christchurch Computer Centre in Saration for a computer will collate banking data throughout the South Island. The upper floors of the Post Office building, at the corner of High Street and Tuam Street, are being altered for this purpose. The

new computer would be installed early next year and would be linked to terminals at most South Island offices, Mr Bradley said. “These building alterations, which will be completed in time for the installation of the computer, will cost about $770,000.” The Chief Post Office in Cathedral Square also has its share of construction projects with alterations begun on the ground floor in preparation for certain Post Office banking facilities. In September, Mr Bradley and his associate staff will move to a leased building in Oxford terrace until the new Christchurch Chief Post Office is built. “These alterations, to accommodate the Savings

Bank facilities, are expected to cost about $100,000,” Mr Bradley said. A face-lift in Phillipstown is under way with the construction of a new Post Office for completion by about September at an estiated cost of $270,000. Under the supervision of a private architect, a private contractor is erecting a brick veneer and glass building on concrete pillars and columns. The new building will replace the 70-year-old post office on the same site. It was no longer adequate for the needs of Post Office customers in > the district,

Mr Bradley said. . In February, Post Office tradesmen began to improve and enlarge the administration accommodation on the Public Service Garage site at the corner of Montreal Street and St Asaph Street. The Post Office runs its hire service of vehicles to other Government departments and runs its own vehicles from this site. The building will cost about $250,000. Work is expected to be completed by October this year. Post Office investment in telecom projects is the subject of another article.