Tauranga City Council staff are expected to move into the new building at 90 Devonport Street from Wednesday 30 April. Photo: Screenshot / Google Maps
The Taxpayers' Union has criticised Tauranga City Council's new office, calling it a "corporate penthouse", but the council's chief executive said the building is leased, the community did not have to pay any upfront building costs, and the fitout is modest.
Tauranga City Council staff are expected to move into the new building at 90 Devonport Street from Wednesday 30 April. It will be the first time in ten years that the council's central city based administration staff were under one roof, after being displaced in 2014 when toxic black mould was discovered in their previous Willow Street premises.
Taxpayers' Union spokesman James Ross said the new building is a penthouse for bureaucrats.
"Ratepayers are coughing up for a $125 million glass tower with barista-grade coffee on tap, while basic city services fall by the wayside," he said.
However, Tauranga City Council chief executive Marty Grenfell said, given it is a new build, the lease arrangement delivers value for money for the community.
The council has signed a $91.9 million, 15-year lease, which will cost $6,129,411 annually.
"For at least 15 years there will be hundreds of council staff coming into the city centre every weekday, bringing renewed momentum, fresh energy, and economic benefits for local businesses," Grenfell said.
Ross said the council was giving the building a "Wall Street-style fit-out on the ratepayer tab", but Grenfell said that by national standards, the fitout was modest.
"The new office supports and builds on our modern work practices like hot-desking, hybrid working, and collaboration spaces. This will allow our organisation to operate more efficiently and collaboratively, be more agile, and better serve the community."
For the last ten years the council has had to lease several smaller office spaces around the city to accommodate staff.
RNZ has asked the council for the annual cost of these leases, including at 1 and 46 Spring St, and 306 Cameron Rd.
90 Devonport Street had been privately developed by Willis Bond in partnership with LT McGuinness, architects Warren and Mahoney, Tauranga City Council, and mana whenua.
Willis Bond's managing director Wayne Silver said the building was delivered on time and under its original budget.
"We are proud to deliver New Zealand's largest mass timber commercial building and the new home for Tauranga City Council. We hope this is the first of many mass timber developments for Willis Bond."
By replacing most traditional concrete and steel elements with engineered timber, the building's all-of-life carbon emissions were around 60 percent less than that of a typical commercial building. It has also achieved a NZGBC 6 Green Star Design rating and features rainwater harvesting, electric vehicle charging, and extensive end-of-trip facilities to encourage active commuting.
Jack McGuinness, manager of LT McGuinness Tauranga, said the project was an opportunity to create something significant for the city.
"It's special to see the first mass timber building of this scale become part of Tauranga['s] city centre.
"The project was a real community effort - from our local LT McGuinness team and sub-trades who delivered the build in a tight 26-month window, to training new apprentices, and working closely with regional timber suppliers and specialist consultants."
All timber was sourced from New Zealand suppliers including laminated veneer lumber columns and beams from Nelson Pine, glued laminated timber for external columns from Levin-based Techlam, and cross-laminated timber for floors and ceilings from Rotorua's Red Stag Timber.
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