When Gerry Brownlee tells you off, you’re probably onto something...
A couple of weeks ago I raised the issue that I had been informed from a number of sources that the Metro Sports Centre has had ground settlement issues. The Press currently choses to continue to print anything which Otakaro Ltd put out as press releases. However, the Star followed the story up. They wrote this https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-christchurch/claim-metro-sports-facility-site-subsiding-labelled-scaremongering
So, lets’ see what came out in the article:
Otakaro Ltd, the masters of not answering questions even though they are managing public money said:
A spokesperson for Ōtākaro Ltd said ground settlement, which is vertical movement of the ground, “is expected and is variable across the site.”
The spokesperson did not answer a question from The Star as to how much specific settlement there had been.
“The design of the structure accommodates the settlements experienced to date and they are not causing any issues with construction continuing,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said “significant” work has been done on the site to improve the ground and control these settlements.
That response would be acceptable if we didn’t know, from the engineering community, that:
- There has been three different types of ground improvement on the site;
- Three different piling systems have been used to date;
- Work continues on the North side of the site, however, work has stopped on the South side.
We, the ratepayers of this City are going to end up inheriting this facility. Otakaro Ltd needs to front up and try a whole new transparent style. They might get a taste for honest reporting.
It’s a real issue in this City. There is a wall of silence which surrounds the large projects which were planned by the Government after the earthquakes. Gerry Brownlee continues to think that calling somebody genuinely asking questions as “scaremongering”. I do not share his blind faith in professionals. Think about the CTV building. Think about the CDHB building which has been opened and is faulty, and which was delivered 3 years late. By the same firm which is building the Metro Sports Centre.
Before CCC inherits this project, let us have honest reports on progress and hear in advance what long term potential problems the City should write into the documents when the centre is handed over. If it’s on the wrong site and will have to be demolished and the state promoted the project, then we need to protect future ratepayers.
Now, Gerry Brownlee, is that scaremongering. Or don’t you care about your future rate levels?
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