CENTRAL FIRE STATION

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 51, 23 November 1929, Page 12

CENTRAL FIRE STATION

SUPPORT FOR PRESENT SITE REPORT FROM ARCHITECT VIEWS OF SUPERINTENDENT The relative merits of the site now occupied by the Central Fire Station, and of that occupied by the Star Boating Club and the Wellington Rowing Club, which is under offer to the Fire Board in exchange for its present site, were further discussed in a brief report presented to yesterday’s meeting of the Fire Board by the fire brigade superintendent, Mr. J. Creeke, and the board’s architect,' Mr. W. Turnbull. A copy of the report is to be sent to the City Council. Three weeks ago the Fire Board held a special meeting to discuss the offer of the City Council of the site occupied by the two rowing clubs as a place on which to build a station. After a long discussion it was decided to agree to the exchange on certain conditions, and subject to the architect’s and superintendent’s report being favourable to the erection of a modern central station on the proposed new site. Previous reports from both the architect and the superintendent had declared that the inclusion of the Free Ambulance station site, which adjoins the rowing clubs’ site, was essentia], for the erection of a modern station to meet the requirements of Wellington, and this statement was reiterated by Mr. Creeke at the special meeting. The board, however, asked the superintendent and architect to make a further inspection of the rowing clubs’ sites and report whether they were adequate and suitable for a new central station, yesterday’s report being the result.

Comparison of Sites. “In our opinion,” said Messrs. Creeke and Turnbull, in their joint report, “the present site is undoubtedly the most suitable for fire brigade purposes, opening out as it does to a quiet street (Mercer Street), and with the frontage to the main thoroughfares of a total length of 386 feet 5 inches, and affording entrances direct to the drill court and private quarters. The survey shows that the present site is more compact and regular on plan, and provides a greater length of frontage to three main thoroughfares.” The report went on to say that the proposed boat shed site opened out on to a busy thoroughfare (Jervois Quay), and that it was situated between the ambulance station on the west boundary and Messrs. Odlin’s building on the south-east boundary, with a frontage to a main thoroughfare of 224 feet 8 inches. The element of danger in opening out on the. busy thoroughfare could be minimised by installing a system of street alarm bells. The areas of the respective sites were almost identical. “The present site,” concluded the report, “is more compact and regular on plan and the building can be altered and added to to meet the requirements of a Central Fire Station at moderate cost. It is practicable, however, to design a building on the proposed site offered by the council, but to warrant the heavy cost of the transference of the present station it is essential, in view of possible future developments for the board to acquire the whole area, including the Free Ambulance site.”

Cost of Alterations. In reply to Mr. C. D. Morpeth, the superintendent said it was estimated that it would cost, roughly, between £25,000 and £30,000 to make the necessary alterations to the present site. Mr. M. Marks: If we retain this site the council will have to find half of the £25,000 to £30,000, and if we don’t it is likely to cost the council in the vicinity of £50,000. I am of opinion that this civic square is going to cost an enormous amount of money. The chairman (Mr. N. W. Nelson) said that If the fire station remained where it was half of the cost of the alterations would’be paid by the City Council and half by the insurance companies, and provided the land was taken at a price, splitting the difference between the Government and the City Council valuation, it would cost the council little or nothing. Mr. Morpeth asked how long the present building was likely to satisfy the requirements of the city if it were Mr. S. S. Dean: Anything up to 100 years. The chairman pointed out that at present the board had to board out ten men at £1 per week per head. That £lO per week would go a long w’ay towards paying the interest on the capital cost of the work. It was not always possible to get quarters' for the men close to the station, and that meant delay in getting thein to the sation after they had been called on the telephone. Excellent Get-a-way. Mr. W. 11. Barton pointed out that every suburban station that was built increased the ’fire-fighting capabilities of the central station. The superintendent, in answer to an inquiry, said he did not know of a better site for a station, or a better get-a-way anywhere else in the world, than the present central station. “This civic square might sound all right,” said Mr. Marks, after referring to a similar venture at Auckland, “but it can be done at too great a cost and inconvenience.” Mr. Dean: This site has undoubted advantages. Mr. Marks remarked that he thought the City Council would see the members of the board were reasonable in their attitude, and come round to the board’s view of the matter. He considered that in the end common sense would prevail. Mr. Dean: The opinion of the superintendent and the architect is against the rowing-sheds site, and I will move a resolution that-—— “Don’t you think,” interrupted the chairman, “that we should be courteous enough to await the council’s reply ?” Mr. Marks said that if they could have a round-table conference it would be agreed that each was an integral part of the city, and that all had for their object the good of the city He was inclined to think that members of the City Council dealt with some matters without knowing as much about them as they should. The board decided to forward a copy of the report to the council, and to defer any action until the council’s reply to the decision the board reached at its special meeting has been received.