Ashburton Guardian, Tuesday, June 2, 2020

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Tuesday, June 2, 2020

Since Sept 27, 1879

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Eight years of waiting By Sue Newman

sue.n@theguardian.co.nz

It may have taken eight years, but the journey to make Ashburton’s art gallery and heritage centre fit for purpose is coming to an end. The building’s owner, the Ashburton District Council, will shortly begin internal and external maintenance work on the complex, after earlier this month resolving the litigation that the project had been immersed in for some time. Work will involve fixing condensation and circulation problems that have been experienced in the building since it became fully occupied.

Some of that work will be weather dependent, but there were other repairs that would get under way over the coming weeks, chief executive Hamish Riach said. “It is pleasing work can finally begin, because the art gallery and heritage centre is an important local facility. We’re keen to start making the necessary repairs to ensure it continues to be one of our district’s valued cultural centres for many years to come,” he said. Included in the work schedule are repairs on the roof membrane and the installation of two mechanical air conditioning units. The southern exterior wall will be sealed and painted in the spring and there will

be ongoing investigations into a solution for weatherproofing the three upstairs bay windows facing State Highway 1. Over the time the maintenance had been deferred the council had taken additional steps to ensure the protection of the complex’s assets, Riach said. This has included regular monitoring of temperatures and moisture levels and installing a temporary dehumidifier system where needed to maintain appropriate levels of climate control. The upcoming work has been budgeted for in the council’s 2020/21 annual plan. In the current year’s annual plan, the council set aside a provision of $2.5 million

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for potential remedial work on the building. At that time it was still working through the details of the work required. In October 2018 the council confirmed that it was involved in a court case over the ongoing issues and proceedings were issued against parties involved in the design and construction of the West Street building. While the litigation has been resolved, the settlement terms are confidential to the parties involved. Work on the complex started in 2012 and the building was completed in 2014 with the building code of compliance signed off by the council in August that year.

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