Sandspit house renovation costs soar

The cost of renovating a house at Sandspit owned by Auckland Council and leased to Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust (NMST) for a marine educational centre has more than doubled. A Rodney Local Board workshop heard last month that the original estimate of $120,000 to refurbish the former carpark manager’s house on the wharf had risen to $270,000, causing some members to question the cost involved. Area manager for parks and community facilities Geoff Pitman said the revised budget and/or design would need to be approved by the new local board after the October local elections. “We’re putting in ...