Media releasesBirkenhead Library on Track
March 12, 2008
Birkenhead Library and Civic Centre’s capital expenditure has come in under-budget for the 2007/08 financial year.
It was announced at yesterday’s North Shore City Council Community Services and Parks Committee meeting that a total of $1,713million be transferred to the 2008/09 financial year. This will be added to the funding provided for the major work in the 2008/09 year.
The amount remaining in the budget for 2007/08 was part of the $2.2million sought in 2007 to ensure work could be progressed as fast as possible once planning and legal matters had been resolved.
Community Services and Parks Committee chair, Councillor Holman says to date funds have been used for the architectural redesign required by the Environment Court decision and for project management costs.
“From here on, as the necessary detailed designs, quantity surveys and landscape requirements are finished, the project will, I hope, gather momentum,” he says.
“I believe that all are working as fast as possible to get these resources restored as quickly as possible, but with the best will in the world, the earliest possible date is around the end of 2009 – assuming no major hold-ups from bad weather or unknowns.
“Birkenhead has been without its library and other civic and community needs for far too long, with many sectors of the community suffering as a result.”
The new library has 250sqm more floor space than the old, and will also include Plunket, Citizens Advice Bureau, Birkenhead Area Office, community board meeting space and the community co-ordinator’s office.
[ends]
To find out what's happening in North Shore City, subscribe to shorelife, our free monthly email newsletter packed full of events, news, projects and activities happening throughout the shore. Sign up now.