240 Invercargill City Council Staff Set to Relocate

• Invercargill City Council staff will temporarily relocate due to the ageing state of their building.
• About 240 staff members will move to new premises for a period of around five years.
• The relocation is part of a project to address urgent upgrades needed for the Council’s building.

Invercargill City Council is preparing to relocate its staff from the Civic Building at 101 Esk Street to temporary offices within Invercargill Central and the adjacent HWR building. This shift, which will last around five years, is a part of the Council’s efforts to address the deteriorating condition of its current building.

Editors Note: This story has been updated, as the original was a draft and in a rush as i was running late for an appointment. I published an unfinished version. Mike.

Council Chief Executive Michael Day explained that the Civic Building, which is over 50 years old, requires significant investment. “In 2021, elected members agreed that a $15 million upgrade of the Council’s civic administration building was urgently needed as the building was long overdue refurbishment,” he said. Day added that maintaining the existing structure would involve substantial upgrades, including interior refurbishments, renewing historical building services, and ensuring the building remains weathertight.

Striking the right balance between budget, technical requirements, and operational needs has been challenging. However, as part of the 2024-2034 Long-term Plan, $21 million has been allocated for Civic Building, which will also cover relocation and fit-out expenses. Day assured the move would be cost-neutral and not impact ratepayers. “I’m pleased to confirm that our high-level estimates show we will be able to achieve this over the full term of the lease,” he said.

Mayor Nobby Clark acknowledged that the poor condition of the current building made the temporary relocation necessary. “Parts of the current Civic Building are well past their expiration date,” he noted, adding that delaying refurbishment was impractical.

The relocation process will begin later this year as spaces become available, taking approximately 12 months to complete. “More than 240 staff currently work out of Civic Building and we’re pleased to be able to provide them with a temporary workplace that is safe and modern,” Day said.

The Council Chambers will stay at the Civic Theatre during the transition, and plans for customer-facing services are yet to be finalised. While this move is temporary, long-term options for the Council’s future accommodation are expected to take between four and six years to finalise.