Cathedral work slows but questions go unanswered

Friday, 15 December 2023

Work on the Christ Church Cathedral restoration project has slowed.

Worker numbers on the Christ Church Cathedral site have been cut as brakes are applied to the project amid budget concerns.

This week Keith Paterson, project leader for Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Ltd (CCRL), confirmed the change of pace while a full review remains under way.

“While we undertake the review, we have slowed work on site,” he said.

“We are working closely with our main contractor to align the resourcing requirements.”

Paterson said strengthening was continuing on the quake-damaged Anglican building. But he declined to answer questions about how many workers had gone, whether budget updates were available, and whether the repairs would take longer than forecast.

Do you know more? Email liz.mcdonald@press.co.nz confidentially.

Earlier in the year the CCRL, a charitable company in charge of the reconstruction, said they would need to raise funds at the rate of $1 million a month to finish the building as construction costs escalated.

At that stage, the cost has risen to $160m, creating a $50m budget shortfall.

Keith Paterson, project director of Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement.

The Press has been told by other sources that figure has increased again.

Paterson promised at the start of November that an update to the community was just weeks away, but on Thursday said they could not say more until the review was completed, probably in the second quarter of 2024.

“We simply don’t have all the answers at the moment,” he said.

Taxpayers have given the project $10m, plus a $15m loan that may not have to paid back. Ratepayers are being levied on each rates bill for 10 years to fund a $10m city council contribution.

Other funding sources are $6m in lottery grants and $53m in insurance, plus individual donors’ contributions.

The restoration site pictured this week.

The project is due for completion in late 2027.

The structure was stabilised and the building entered for the first time since the earthquakes in March.

CCRL said then the next phase of the project would be to strengthen and restore the main cathedral and rebuild the collapsed tower.

That was the last time a detailed update was given.

The King, then Prince of Wales, visits the Anglican cathedral in 2019 with the then Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and dean Lawrence Kimberley.

Foundation works including installing base isolators are scheduled for next year.

Christchurch city councillor Jake McLellan, who represents the central city, said councillors had not been given any recent information. He said the project was an important one for the city and “everyone is anxious to see the cathedral reinstated”.

“A significant public investment has gone in and we are all looking forward to a finish,” McLellan said.

Philip Burdon, a former cabinet minister who campaigned for the restoration and personally donated $5m, said he held no fears for the future of the project.

“It is all under control and being managed very efficiently,” he said.

Recently it was revealed that a $4m donation to the cathedral pledged by British philanthropist Hamish Ogston, who is now at the centre of sex trafficking allegations in his own country, did not eventuate.

Another donation to the project has come from King Charles, who gave an undisclosed amount while visiting Christchurch as Prince of Wales.

In September, the Anglican synod voted to investigate the possible sale of Christchurch’s cardboard cathedral and land on Latimer Square to help raise funds for the restoration.

The now surplus St Saviours church and hall on Colombo St in Sydenham is also in the process of being sold.