Law stalls plans for Municipal Chambers

Press, 27 September 1988, Page 6

Law stalls plans for Municipal Chambers

The 1922 act of Parliament that governs the Old Municipal Chambers in Oxford Terrace will have to be repealed before Christchurch City Council plans to develop the building can go ahead.

The reason — the act prohibits the leasing or sub-leasing of the building to any profit-making organisation. The council has approved plans, and set aside $470,000, to renovate the former civic offices and add a riverside cafe extension. The intention is to put the restaurant and cafe areas and tourist retail space up for lease. The council’s office solicitor, Mr Peter Mitchell, told yesterday’s property and promotion committee that leasing to any profit-making organisation was illegal.

Cr Vicki Buck wondered if a way out might be to lease the whole

building to the Canterbury Promotion Council, “who could never make a profit in a month of Sundays,” and let it sub-lease the building. “The act prohibits that too, because the tenants would still be profit-mak-ing organisations,” Mr Mitchell said.

The question was not whether the council made a profit from the building but the profit status of its tenants, he said. The Internal Affairs Department had rejected a suggestion that the 1922 Christchurch Municipal Offices Leases Act could be repealed by a clause in the Local Legislation Bill about to be introduced in the House. A local bill would be needed. The. council’s director of property, Mr Bill Morgan, said the Conservation Department had indicated it would not commit itself to approving the use of riverbank reserve for the

cafe extension until public notification was done. The Minister of Conservation’s approval is needed for the use of the reserve. The councillors decided to reform the sub-commit-tee that investigated the proposal to look at how to manage the development. Steps to promote a local bill will also be taken. Foreshore A sub-committee of councillors will decide how best to invite proposals for the New Brighton foreshore site. The site is now available to developers as the council has lifted the exclusive option on it for two Wellington companies that planned an oceanarium. Dundee Place

Development of land in Dundee Place for elderly people’s owner-occupier and public rental housing

will push ahead in spite of Spreydon residents’ fears about flooding. The council plans a three-stage development; the first stage being 15 units for elderly people and four owner-occupier units. The North-west Spreydon Residents’ Association sought a council assurance that the development would not increase stormwater discharge from the area. Mr Morgan assured councillore that provision had been made for ponding of stormwater. Car park The Manchester Street car-parking building will now close on Saturday evenings because running costs are not being recovered. The parking superintendent will be able to open the building for special events if necessary.