The Civic Centre project has a total budget of $59 million, including contingency funding. The budget will cover construction and base fitout costs of this project, including:
- $3.4 million land purchase from Returned and Services Association (RSA)
- demolition
- architectural design and building plans
- resource consents and building consents
- access and parking
- internal fit-out, and
- building construction.
The original budget that was allowed for in the 2018 - 2028 Long Term Plan was $38 million for a building with a footprint of 5000sqm. At a full Council meeting on 27 February 2020, Council moved to increase the size to 8000sqm, with a budget increase of $48 million.
This change in scope future-proofs the construction for the high projected growth of Whangārei District (revealed in the latest Census data). The larger footprint also allows for the Northland Transportation Alliance to be housed within the Whangarei District Council civic space.
In an acknowledgement of global construction cost pressures relating to COVID-19, on 23 June 23, Council revised the budget for this project to a total of $59 million, including a contingency budget.
While some COVID-19 issues (such as Auckland lockdowns) have had a direct impact on this project, there have been many indirect issues, including contracts needing to be extended, use of scaffolding, propping and security due to the site being shut down, and the well-publicised increase in construction material costs.
Supply chains have been affected. Sub-contractors and equipment had to be substituted due to Auckland border lockdowns. Some components were airfreighted at a higher cost as pandemic-affected shipping timeframes would have otherwise meant their supply and installation would be late.
We will be totally transparent about the cost of this new community asset – which is why we have grouped all costs together in one place – rather than break it into smaller bits.
We're one of the largest organisations in Whangārei, so putting us all into one home is a big project!