Emergency work at flood-struck Edgecumbe delays City Focus upgrade

The past, present and future look of Manawa, the old City Focus. Photo/File

Work to complete the upgrade of the old City Focus, now named Manawa, has been delayed, but through no fault of the council or its contractor.

Rotorua district councillors were updated on the project at a meeting of the Rotorua Lakes Council today.

They were told the final construction phase would not start for at least another three weeks due to the contractor taking on emergency work in the flood ravaged township of Edgecumbe.

Earlier this month, the council signed off on the final phase of the upgrade that was supposed to start early next week and be finished mid to late July.

The contract to complete the $1.36 million upgrade, that will see the area opened up to traffic using both Tutanekai and Hinemoa Sts, while also accommodating the council's Green Corridor cycleway and pedestrians, was given to Fletcher Construction.

The project started mid-2015 with the removal of the sails covering the area and, in December 2015, the old office building was demolished.

Since then, work to upgrade the pillars has been completed as well as the refurbishment of the carved statues of Hinemoa and Tutanekai.

Councillor and district revitalisation portfolio leader Karen Hunt said the three week delay was a minimum and due to the work being carried out in Edgecumbe could not put a exact date on when the work would start.

"We can't really pressure the contractors as we believe Edgecumbe does take priority.

"Their needs are far more important than ours right now and it's important that community can get back on its feet."

Councillor Charles Sturt said he was still concerned that work would be carried out during the British and Irish Lions rugby tour when the Lions take on the Maori All Blacks in Rotorua on June 17.

He said it would be better to do the work in October or November before the next summer tourism season.

However, Ms Hunt said all precautions were being taken to make sure work did not disrupt businesses in the area and the council would keep the public informed about schedules.

"There's no way we could find a window where there was no significant event happening in the city," she said.

"We are blessed to have so many national and international events coming here, but we are always busy with events so finding a time where nothing was happening was very difficult."

City Focus redevelopment
- Final stage works delayed at least another three weeks
- Hinemoa and Tutanekai Sts to be opened up to through traffic
- Site to be renamed "Manawa"
- Delay caused by contractor taking on emergency work in Edgecumbe