Rates surplus to fund mould clean-up

Toxic mould was first identified in Tauranga's Civic Buildings in 2003 which led to the evacuation of staff.

This year's $1 million rates surplus will come to the rescue of a toxic mould problem first identified in Tauranga's Civic Buildings in 2003.

A disastrous history of extensions to the council's original 1972 administration block has been revealed in a council report.

Four years after major library and office extensions were completed in 1989, chronic leaks and the discovery of mould forced first floor staff to be evacuated for three months.

The latest and most far-reaching chapter in the history of leaks will see the council decide this week whether to use the $1 million rates surplus to offset most of the $1.37 million projected to be spent dealing with toxic mould and shifting staff into temporary offices.

Details of the financial burden imposed by the discovery of the mould after a staff member fell sick in November last year will be debated by the council.

Project Clean costs were expected to reach $1.37 million by June 30 this year, with staff shifts and leasing temporary offices swallowing $953,000. The project was expected to cost an additional $1.2 million over the next two years - 80 per cent funded from rates.

The report also recommended the council put aside an additional $1 million a year for 2015-16 and 2016-17 to fix the leaks. The money would come from the building contingency reserve. Earthquake strengthening requirements were also likely to be addressed while council staff were working in rented offices, with the scope of works awaiting the completion of an investigation into weather tightness and seismic issues.

The first report of leaks to the major 1989 extensions happened only nine months after the building was finished. "From that point onwards, there were continued reports of leaks, wet carpet and mould in the Civic Buildings."

Despite repairs, the leaks continued until tests in 2003 identified "poor results" for fungi, prompting the evacuation of staff and refurbishments. Second floors were added to most of the Civic Buildings in 2004 to combat leaks and provide additional office space.

"While not completely eliminating leaks, these new floors improved matters."

Less evidence of leaks were reported from 2007-14. "This could partly be attributable to staff becoming de-sensitised to leaks," the report said.

In 2014 major leaks and damp smells continued to be reported from large areas of the Civic Buildings, along with reports of ill-health from staff.

It was also disclosed how the 1998 single-storey extension of the main administration building on to Hamilton St and Willow St began leaking at the join almost immediately.