Leaks, fungus and airborne toxic mould — South Wairarapa District Council’s Martinborough headquarters is being slammed as a place of damp and decay.
Councillors are now tasked with giving direction on the way forward, ranging from minimal intervention at a cost of $130,000, to building a new office at an unknown cost.
The report to the council’s Strategy Working Committee, which meets on Wednesday said as a result of historic inaction, the existing council office was not fit-for-purpose and presented a risk to staff health and safety.
A 2022 building report highlighted areas of elevated moisture within areas of the building.
In July this year, a mould test and survey found airborne Toxic Black Mould in the men’s toilets, and significant fungal growth in the Waiohine Room.
It also found extremely elevated readings for Aspergillus/Penicillium, and Cladosporium in the a corporate office and the same mould in the corridor near the mayor’s office.
As a result of this, immediate action was taken to safeguard the health and safety of staff which included vacating the corporate office and prohibiting access to the men’s toilets.
Interim solutions have been carried out but these do not get rid of the problem which is caused by ongoing leaks.
These leaks have stained and damaged the walls, wallpaper, and carpets of the Martinborough office and allowed mould to flourish.
Another health and safety issue outlined in the report is that there is no physical separation between the public and private parts of the building.
Councillors have been presented with several options to consider.
The cheapest is to spend $130,000 to replace one section of the roof and install security doors at reception.
Ongoing treatment costs for the mould and fungus would be required and the council would still need to pay for a lease in Greytown as its staff do not all fit in the Martinborough office.
Option 2 is to refurbish the building and office space and fully replace the roof at a cost of $1-1.5 million.
Option 3 is to build and extension of about 80-100m2 to the front of the building, fully replace the roof, and do a full refurbishment of the office space at a costs of $1.5-2 million.
Option 4 is to build new office accommodation to lease, and dispose of the 19 Kitchener St site.
The cost to do this is not known.
A hybrid option that involves hot-desking, working from home more, or working from other council sites has also been suggested.
The decision councillors make on Wednesday does not commit the council to a spend at this time, but rather would inform the direction on proposed office works.
The final funding decision would come back to council for approval at a later date.
For the more expensive options, council would likely loan-fund the work.
The report said any future approach to the office would need to consider future work practices at the council, “whilst being conscious of the longer-term discussions around amalgamation with neighbouring councils — with the likelihood of still requiring a hub location in South Wairarapa”.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air