Spoken before over this and have given the backstory here but see via the Hutt News that some local Eastbourne residents are up in arms about this development progressing

Last week, Eastbourne man Greg Dellabarca launched a campaign to have the project abandoned. He believes that not only will there be a massive overspend but the project has the possibility of damaging the relationship between Eastbourne and the rest of the city.

The city council has been unfairly pushed into having to restore the bus barns, he says.
“This is economic lunacy. They [city council politicians] just listened to the ranters and ravers but I never thought it would actually proceed.”

Mr Dellabarca says recent publicity about the project has resulted in “numerous” phone calls from concerned Eastbourne residents who want the project stopped.

via Hutt News

Mr Dellabarca (longterm Eastbourne family) has every right to be upset at the council.

HuttNZ has strongly stated its position on this bus barn  (even though it has Heritage 2 status) that the project is:-

• A waste of ratepayers money
• It will be impossible for the project to be completed within the budget allocated, and will be a council overrun and as such ensure completion of the project. Council fudged figures to make bus makeover more appealing.
• The relationship between the bus company and the HCC needs to be more transparent
• Who in their right mind would purchase any apartment above a busy bus station at the end of the road, far from services (views are good though).

Good on Mr Dellabarca for trying to start a petition to stop this project even given his late run. HCC should stay out of all commercial building  developments. The very reason HCC debt sits at 80 million roughly  today is due to the Parking Building in central Lower Hutt in the 1990s and further to that the recent  Daly Street project is testament that their focus should be on essential services not property speculation masked as development. 

I hope they listen to the public concerns.

Well the ongoing saga of the Eastbourne Bus Barn moved a step forward yesterday with the Resource Consent being granted by council and announced by Mayor Ogden for building to commence before Christmas.

 

Korohiwa bus barn upgrade moves forward

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Mayor David Ogden has announced that the refurbishment of the Korohiwa bus barn is a step closer following the granting of a resource consent.

“I’m delighted the consent has been approved and that the project can move forward.

“This iconic Eastbourne landmark will enjoy a whole new lease of life and revitalise Korohiwa when work is completed.

“The consent gives us approval to fully refurbish the bus barn, restoring it to its original condition and reinstating three apartments on the first floor.

“The bus barn has a category two historic places classification and our architects are working with conservation architect Ian Bowman and the Historic Places Trust to ensure we preserve its heritage value. 

“The building consent application will now be lodged and tenders called for.  We expect construction to begin by Christmas.” via HuttCity

 

The history on this development is mired with controversy from Councillor Max Shierlaw that the barn was just a sop between the council and Eastbourne residents, when the coastal town threatened to secede to Wellington in the 1990s.

To the issue over the cost which just seems to escalate, with no apparent ceiling in sight.

 Hutt NZ agrees with Councillor Shierlaw on this and it does seem to show the council being very cavalier with the ratepayers money, on what after all is a bus barn! Historical or not.

Form your own opinion, but really is this what the HCC should really be spending $2.2 million on, and is property development their role? as Daly Street has shown in the past.

Last word to  the councillor:

Max Shierlaw Western Ward Representative (Normandale) says saving the barn is a waste of money, and wants the council to think hard about spending up to $3m on its upgrade and landscaping the bay.

“Just because its historic it doesn’t mean it needs to be restored” he says. “At the end of the day theres pressure on the budget, and we’ve all these requests for spending. you can’t just keep adding and adding without taking other things away”.

Council engineers have put a figure of $2.2 million on the cost of the upgrading of the bus barn at Korohiwa. (see article)

The engineers assessed the building2 weeks ago and say they found that its state was not as dire as orginally thought.

A report has been furnished which states that a rental income of up to $100,000 could be expected from the barn upon refurbishment. Rental is still being negotiated between the tenant City line and the HCC. City Line is being asked to contribute $350,000 towards upgrade.

However even if recommendations are passed, it will most likely face opposition from several councillors.

Max Shierlaw Western Ward Representative (Normandale) says saving the barn is a waste of money, and wants the council to think hard about spending up to $3m on its upgrade and landscaping the bay.

“Just because its historic it doesn’t mean it needs to be restored” he says. “At the end of the day theres pressure on the budget, and we’ve all these requests for spending. you can’t just keep adding and adding without taking other things away”.

Cr Shierlaw also questions how much of the Eastbourne community supports an upgrade to the bus barn. He believes the issue was hijacked by vocal minority who want to get back at HCC.

Work on landscaping the bay is due to start shortly.

My opinion is that this area needs work, it is access to the Pencarrow coastal walk which is extremely attractive as a recreational option especially in summer both by walkers and mountain bikers. As for the Bus Barn at $2.2m seems a lot, a return of $100k does not add up in my eyes, but no doubt that providing bus shelter is hugely beneficial to City Line and regional transport hubs, that no doubt has been factored into this development.