Building work in limbo

Building work in limbo

A Christchurch builder is concerned that valuable infrastructure projects in the quake-torn region are being stalled by a lack of paperwork.

Two weeks ago Jennian Homes Canterbury was preparing to forge ahead with building two new classrooms for Aidanfield School.

Today, pupils are back but construction workers remain stood down.

“We welcome the emergency legislation passed last night to fast track work to rebuild the city,” says Jennian operations manager Andrew Walker.

“Our construction team and subcontractors are all ready to get stuck in and get the city back on its feet. At the moment, we’re in limbo.”

The beleaguered council had approved the development before the 7.1 earthquake hit the city on 4 September. But the paperwork was still with the typing pool.

“The consent was due through on the Monday,” Walker says. “We were ready to pour the slab. Now we can’t get hold of anyone at the council and we don’t know what’s going on.”

With tight construction deadlines to meet and workers to pay, there’s a serious cost to the business each day work is delayed.

The classrooms are stage two of a project to cope with the growth in pupil numbers at the school – Jennian Homes completed a library and science block earlier this year.

The extra space can’t come soon enough. Neighbouring Halswell Primary – the largest primary school in the South Island – has been marked for demolition.

“We’re concerned that valuable infrastructure projects like this are on hold,” Walker says. “This isn’t about fast tracking – it’s about reinstating basic services to keep the local economy running.

“The region needs buildings. We want to build them. We don’t want to wait any longer.”

ENDS

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