Green light for Katikati Library and Community Hub construction

Thursday 3 August, 2017

Council has approved the contract to build a new Library, Service Centre and Community Hub for Katikati. Elected members passed a recommendation to the Operations and Monitoring Committee meeting in early August to let the construction contract to Watts and Hughes Ltd for a sum of $3.8 million.

The total budget for the project is set at $4.5 million and includes construction costs, fees and contingencies.

The current estimated cost of the project exceeds this and the meeting discussed elements of the project that could be delayed or eliminated to stay within the funding envelope.

The construction project was approved on the condition it is achieved within the $4.5 million budget. Decisions on any changes to elements needed to achieve this will take place during construction.

Mayor Garry Webber said approving construction and confirming the project funding costs at $4.5 million were significant steps in a project that has been well researched and planned over many years.

It's very pleasing that we've now got to the stage where we are within reach of building much needed facilities in Katikati that will add real value to the community for years to come and become part of the fabric of what makes this area a great place to live.''

The project is for a double-storied library and service centre building and single-storey community hub linked to each other and to the main street by covered walkways and a community courtyard.

The Katikati Library has been planned for in Council's Long Term Plan (LTP) since 2012 and the project was consulted on with the community through the Council's 2015 LTP, and Annual Plan processes.

Background

A property at 21 Main Street was purchased in March 2011, and identified within the Katikati Town Centre Plan as a suitable location for a Library and Service Centre.

In the course of consultation with the community and the Katikati Community Board, the concept of a community hub as part of the area office/library was advocated and agreed by Council in March 2016. External funding of $350,000 for the hub was obtained through a Lotteries grant.

In March/April 2017, Council went through a tender process, which was won by Watts & Hughes, on the understanding that they would be prepared to work through a value engineering process to de-risk' the project from their perspective while at the same time looking into decreasing the reliance on contingencies, which were making the project unaffordable within the scope of the budget.