Council to focus more on 100pc fix

People will have to wait to have a say on earthquake-strengthening of the Opera House along with the adjacent Municipal Building. Photo / File

It is likely to be three or four months before Hastings residents have their say on the multi-million-dollar restoration project that would be required to fix the city's Opera House.

The cost of earthquake-strengthening the 99-year-old facility - along with the adjacent Municipal Building - has been estimated at between $10.7 million and $21.7 million.

A consultants' report released by Hastings District Council last month said bringing the entire complex up to just above the minimum level of earthquake code compliance (35 to 45 per cent) would cost between $10.7 million and $13.2 million, while reaching 100 per cent of code would cost between $17.8 million and $21.7 million.

But in a report to be considered by councillors at a meeting tomorrow, council staff say more work should be done investigating the 100 per cent option, along with a third option to bring the complex up to 70-75 per cent of code.

That followed a recommendation from last month's Holmes Consulting Group report not to pursue the 35-45 per cent option because the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineers recommended strengthened buildings should target a minimum of 67 per cent of code.

A meeting last month between councillors and consultants had "highlighted the potential shortcomings if council was to progress an option that only just gets over the 33 per cent building code requirement," the council staff report said.

Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule said yesterday once the "preliminary design stage" work on the 70 to 75 and 100 per cent options was carried out, the council would be in a position to consult with the public on the "viable options" for the Opera House's future.

The 35 to 45 per cent fix was not considered viable because of the high number of people that would be using the building, he said.

Asked about the option of demolishing the iconic facility, Mr Yule said: "The feedback we're getting is that it must be preserved and I don't think anybody is seriously suggesting that it should be demolished."

Once it has more details on the required work, probably in three or four months, the council will carry out formal consultation with residents before making a final decision on the strengthening work, Mr Yule said.

The council has budgeted $20 million to spend on three projects over the next 10 years - $8.5 million for the Opera House, $7 million for the redevelopment of Clive Square and $4.5 million to develop a CBD hotel.

But given the Opera House strengthening costs had ballooned since estimates were made last year, the council would have to rejig its spending on the three projects following consultation with the public.