Historic Botanic Gardens glasshouses reopen

Christchurch City Council’s Community Committee met today (Tuesday 15 July) and received a report on the Council’s Facilities Rebuild programme.

A highlight of this programme over the past month has been the reopening of the Botanic Gardens’ historic Cuningham and Townend glasshouses. The Fernery and Foweraker glasshouses are also currently open, and the Garrick and Gilpin glasshouses are currently being outfitted with new plant displays.

Pre-quake, these glasshouses would attract around 280,000 visitors a year. They are home to impressive – and sometimes rare – plant collections. The glasshouses are of historic note – Cuningham House, for example, is a heritage building from the Victorian era and is listed with the New Zealand Historic Place Trust.

For more information on these glasshouses, please visit www.ccc.govt.nz/Conservatories

The Committee also resolved to recommend that:

• The earthquake-damaged Linwood Library be demolished, and the site be made available for lease after the demolition by way of a public tendering process. The insurance settlement on the library has yet to be resolved, and this process will continue after the demolition.

• The Botanic Gardens Tea Kiosk be repaired and strengthened, with the aim of having it open for the 2014/15 summer season, subject to the outcome of the Councillors’ Facilities Priority Workshop. The repair would cost an estimated $110,000 and would return the building to between 40 and 50 per cent of the New Building Standard (NBS). It is currently at seven per cent of the NBS. The Facilities Priority workshop will see the Council identify 30 priority facilities for further investigations, funding and, where possible, repair.

For more information on the Facilities Rebuild programme, please visit www.futurechristchurch.co.nz

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