Council extends deadline on Coastlands Aquatic Centre talks
Wednesday 20 February 2013
The Kāpiti Coast District Council has given receivers PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) another few days to come up with a proposal aimed at getting work fully restarted on the Coastlands Aquatic Centre project.
PwC is negotiating with more than thirty sub contractors who were on the site when work ceased on Waitangi day after news of Mainzeal's collapse. Five returned to work this week.
By law, receivers have ten days to come up with a proposal to deal with projects left in limbo but, because of the complexity of the negotiations, Council has agreed to extend the deadline until Monday (25 February).
Group Manager, Community Services Tamsin Evans says Council acknowledges the huge task PwC is engaged in and is keen to do whatever it can to get the site fully operational again.
"If that means showing a little flexibility, so be it. Every indication we've had from PwC is that they are as keen as we are to get the project finished so we believe it is in Council's interest to give them a few extra days."
Ms Evans says when the receivership was announced, the site was at the height of activity with almost every trade represented there.
"PwC has to talk with every one of those sub contractors and come to arrangements that result in them resuming work. As you can imagine that is a very time consuming process."
Ms Evans says because the sub-contractors were employed by Mainzeal, Council has no contractual arrangement with them and can't interfere with negotiations.
"We have however offered to attend meetings with PwC and the sub contractors to facilitate their return to the site, where the receivers think this would be helpful."
Ms Evans says Council and its legal advisers are continuing to talk with PwC at a senior level on overarching matters related to protecting Council's investment and issues around warranties.
"We are just one of more than 40 sites around the country with the same issues so naturally things are not going to happen overnight. I know people are getting impatient and want a date for the Coastlands Aquatic Centre opening but we just can't talk firm dates at this stage. We are confident, however that the project will be completed - and won't that be a day to celebrate!"