Bureau still looking for a home

The Citizens Advice Bureau in Queen St is likely to be homeless next month when it gets its marching orders from Auckland City Council.

The Queen St branch has to vacate its premises just behind the Auckland Town Hall on November 16 for construction to begin on the $21 million Q Theatre.

The council has been working with the bureau to find new premises in the city, but without success to date.

Discussions have been held with the Auckland University of Technology about relocating to its campus since the council gave the bureau formal notice on May 15 to move.

Commercial rents are not an option for the voluntary agency.

The Queen St office has about 40 visitors a day and between 20 and 30 people seeking services from Justices of the Peace, such as signatures.

Citizens Advice Bureau city manager Jane Bollard would not discuss the move, referring questions to the council.

Auckland's long-awaited Q Theatre, a flexible performing arts venue of 350 to 460 seats, is due to be completed in late 2011.

The closure of the Queen St branch is the second blow for the bureau by the council this year. In May, Citizens & Ratepayers councillors voted to cut $65,000 from a council grant to the 11 branches in Auckland City.

Community services chairman Paul Goldsmith said the city branch could dip into its reserves of $250,000 to add to the council grant of $577,000.