Media Statement From Historic Places Canterbury 25 May 2023 - Chair Mark Gerrard:
Historic Places Canterbury has concerns with the CCC private commercial negotiations over the restoration of the Canterbury Provincial Council Building's Timber Section.
"The Christchurch City Council has used an appalling process in its decision making.
"Instead of being open and transparent, the Council has chosen to be secretive in its decision making on the Canterbury Provincial Council Building.
"The Canterbury Provincial Council Building is an internationally significant Heritage building and Christchurch Residents are entitled to be fully involved and consulted in decisions on its future.
"Historic Places Canterbury considers the Canterbury Provincial Council Building to be a CCC strategic asset. Any decisions on this special Heritage Building's future should have and must involve open public consultation.
"The Christchurch residents should have been presented with all the options and their views sought before the CCC made the decision to go into private commercial negotiations.
"If what is effectively a Private /Public Partnership is the best option, then the CCC should hold an open Public Tender.
"HPC does not object to Private / Public partnerships, however these are commercially binding agreements and the framework, conditions and outcomes etc should be subject to public and heritage professional scrutiny prior to their being agreed to.
"In the commercial negotiations, are impartial independent Heritage Professionals and Academics being consulted by the CCC?
"Any negotiations have to ensure any work on the CPCB restoration is internationally best practice and not driven by commercial necessity.
"This Building is a Heritage gem and the work conducted needs to be rigorously supervised.
The restoration needs to be performed carefully by skilled practitioners.