Tuesday 19 April 2016

Repairs on the way for New Brighton landmarks

Earthquake repairs begin in spring for two of the Christchurch seaside's most prominent landmarks – New Brighton Pier and New Brighton Library.

"These two facilities held up well during the earthquakes, and have been attracting plenty of visitors to the area since, but repairs to the Pier have to begin soon to avoid deterioration," says David Adamson, General Manager City Services at Christchurch City Council.

"With the Library sitting adjacent, we're scheduling both repair jobs to coincide as much as possible to keep disruption to a minimum. We're estimating that the Library will be closed for six months, and the Pier may be closed for a period of between 12 and 18 months, depending on the chosen repair method and the sea conditions."

The possibility of keeping the Pier accessible to the public throughout the works is being investigated.

The Salt on the Pier café will remain open throughout the majority of the work.

Burwood–Pegasus Community Board Chair Andrea Cummings says the repairs will be welcomed by the community.

"There's been a lot of interest in these two facilities since the earthquake, so it's great to finally have confirmation that things are about to happen – and with the long-term future of New Brighton in mind," Ms Cummings says.

"This news is a welcome reminder of the Council's commitment to the area, and it's reassuring to see the effort going into keeping any disruption to a minimum."

The Council is committed to the revitalisation of New Brighton through the enabling work being done by Development Christchurch Limited and Regenerate Christchurch.

New Brighton Pier

The repairs to New Brighton Pier will focus on damage sustained by the support columns at seabed-level, and there will be additional repairs to the cosmetic earthquake damage to the deck and railings.

"New Brighton Pier performed as expected in the earthquakes and is still perfectly safe to use, but some of the damage has left the Pier's support columns vulnerable to rust in the marine environment," Mr Adamson says. "By repairing the supports, we increase the Pier's lifespan and make sure future generations are able to enjoy it."

The repairs are expected to be completed by early 2018, and the design is currently underway. The Council's Guy Fawkes, Kite Day and Coast to Coast events will go ahead as scheduled, but will be planned around the closure of the Pier. There will be some disruption to normal activity around the Pier once repairs begin.

New Brighton Library

New Brighton Library sustained moderate damage in the earthquakes, and will be closed for an estimated six months while repairs take place. Christchurch City Libraries is investigating the possibility of offering temporary library services in the area during the repair.

The most significant work includes repairs to concrete columns and floors, replacing the east-facing windows on the first floor and strengthening of the wall/roof connections, as well as external painting, carpet replacement, deck repairs in the restaurant and some cosmetic internal wall repair/painting.

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