People ‘devastated’ at proposed Begonia House demolition
Monday, 25 November 2024
The Begonia House is set to be demolished if the Wellington City Council gives the green light tomorrow.
The greenhouse, known for its collection of rare and exotic tropical plants in the heart of the Botanic Garden, is in need of a rebuild due to its safety hazards.
With the Wellington City Council budget stretched thin, council staff are recommending councillors vote to demolish the greenhouse and not replace it.
The glasshouse is more than 60 years old and has suffered significant damage. Panes of glass have broken, timber support frames are rotting and aluminium frames are failing.
Mazz Scannell, president of the Friends of the Wellington Botanic Garden, said hundreds of “devastated” emails had flooded her inbox in response to the news.
“People are stopping me in the street saying they will chain themselves to the Begonia House if they're going to knock it down.”
The Begonia House attracted an estimated 240,000 visitors every year.
Scannell said the glasshouse was a place for people of all ages to come, admire and learn about exotic plants.
In a recent council meeting which discussed the long-term plan, councillor Tim Brown asked if there was a way the greenhouse could be kept on life support, or if the council could spend a smaller amount on its rebuild.
But building a low-cost replacement with a different design could put the council at risk of legal prosecution, with the building considered part of a heritage area safeguarded from development under the Resource Management Act.
Investing less in repairs would also leave the problems not dealt with and further work required in the future.
This winter the building was closed to the public after strong winds dislodged the glass panes on two occasions, once when the panes collapsed into the house and another when the glass blew over and onto the other side.
It will cost about $1m to demolish the building, and the area will be used as a public space. The Picnic Cafe will remain.
Other projects proposed by council staff to be cut, deferred or re-scoped include the Frank Kitts Park redevelopment, Huetepara Park, Ōtari Landscape Development Plan, Khandallah Pool upgrade, Grenada North Community Sports Hub, playground upgrades, Kilbirnie Skate Park, Bond Store upgrade, Karori Event Centre Fitout, art installations, Wellington Zoo upgrades, Johnsonville urban green space development, Organics Processing and Southern Landfill Carbon Unit Purchases.
The proposal for the Golden Mile project now only involves one street, Courtenay Place. Cycle lanes and The City Streets project have been cut back, and the unallocated budget from the $200m Te Ngākau Civic Square redevelopment has been pushed to outer years.
Councillors are to vote on the fate of capital projects on Tuesday. The budget will be agreed on in December before it is put out for public consultation and finalised in June.