Cost to build new road link in west Christchurch increases 41%
From reporter Tina Law:
The cost to build a new road link in Christchurch’s west has ballooned 41% to $25 million.
The Christchurch City Council is making changes to Halswell Junction Rd at Waterloo Rd, to provide a safer, more direct route for vehicles, especially large trucks accessing a nearby industrial area.
The cost to do the work has increased by $7.25m to $25m up from the $17.75m previously budgeted and there is a risk it could increase even further.
The work, being undertaken by Fulton Hogan, involves building a new road between Foremans Rd and Waterloo Rd, bypassing the existing section of Halswell Junction Rd, which will become a cul-de-sac.
A new rail crossing will be built at the end of the new link and the old crossing at Halswell Junction Rd by Waterloo Rd will be removed.
KiwiRail’s portion of the project has increased by $3.97m due to the rising cost of signal designs, and materials and construction.
The remaining $3.28m increase was due to escalating utility prices, and roading construction costs, the council said.
The project is completely funded by the council, with no subsidy from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.
The work was expected to start mid-June and was expected to take a total of about 14 to 18 months.
Kalle
"Sports and travelling run in the family, and that's kind of what's led me to come to New Zealand."
"I grew up in a small town in Finland. My dad was involved with sports all his life, he was a shot putter, discus thrower, powerlifter, we traveled quite a bit when I was a kid. He never mentioned much of the rugby days. He just said he broke both of his shin bones playing rugby, so he said, ‘never play the sport, It's crazy.’
I started playing when I was 18. I played my first cap for the Finnish national team in 2014, we won the Finnish championship with my club. Rugby is not a big thing in Finland.
I moved here to play rugby in 2017. The club that wanted me to come over was Methven Rugby Club. They got me here and they were like, ‘what do you do for work? I’d just finished chef school in Finland. ‘We'll get you a job at Mount Hutt as a chef, you can do that while you play rugby with us.’ I said, ‘Perfect. Yeah, I'm in’.
I've always loved food. My mum was an amazing cook, and still is. When I was studying tourism I worked in some hotels in Finland, and I saw how the chef's worked. I just loved the kitchen vibe and I was like, Yeah, that’d be something I'd love to do.
I've had more of a culinary journey In New Zealand than in Finland. I started at Mount Hutt, after that I worked at The Dubliner in Methven. I worked as a senior pizza chef at Sal’s for maybe six months then worked as chef de partie at Cellar Door. At Eliza's Manor, I worked myself up to a junior sous chef. Then the opportunity came to work my first head chef job at Moon Under Water.
We're privileged to have a busy atmosphere, we can try new things and get a bit creative. There are no TV’s, just come here with your family or with your mates, play board games, to socialise.
I really want to drive the local food and ingredients through the menu. We don't mind spending more for quality ingredients as long as it's supporting New Zealand businesses. We just love to use local. And it's pub food, but I feel like it's elevated.
I play club rugby here for the Christchurch Football Club, the oldest club in New Zealand and I still play regularly for the Finnish national team, whenever they can fly me over to play."
- Kalle
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Poll: Is it okay to grocery shop in your PJs?
I'm sure you've seen it while doing your weekly shop... In fact, it may have even been you.
What do you think about people heading to the supermarket in their pyjamas?
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14.5% It's fine!
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75% It's questionable
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10.6% Other - I'll share below
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