Budget blowout for new Supreme Court
By TRACY WATKINS - The Dominion Post | Wednesday, 17 December 2008Plans for the new Supreme Court building in Wellington may have to be pared back as costs soar to more than $80 million.
Justice Minister Simon Power revealed the cost blowout yesterday and said he was "brassed off" but it was too late to stop the project. But ambitious plans for the building, which include a bronze screen topping a two-level glass shell, may have to be pared back as the Government tells officials to keep a lid on costs.
Mr Power said yesterday he had made it clear to officials that there was no room for further cost blowouts and that the Government would run an "iron ruler" over the original plans.
"I've made it very clear to justice officials that I am not interested in anything which exceeds the bounds of practicality and functionality. There had better not be unnecessary trimmings at $81 million."
The cost of the building, initially estimated at $65 million in 2006 has soared to $80.7 million.
Mr Power said the major cause of the blowout was a rise in the cost of restoring the adjacent old High Court building.
A review by independent surveyors had been ordered and a report was expected by March.
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