The seemingly never-ending Korohiwa saga may yet take more twists and turns.

For more than a decade the city council has been grappling with the future of the bus barns and adjacent land north of Burdans Gate.

At one stage a group of Eastbourne residents threatened to lead the Bays and Petone in a breakaway to Wellington City if the land was sold.

Earlier this year, the council agreed to spend $2.2 million upgrading the bus barns, which are in a dilapidated state.

The Hutt News understand some councillors do not believe the building can be restored within the allocated budget.

Last week, Eastbourne man Greg Dellabarca launched a campaign to have the project abandoned. He believes that not only will there be a massive overspend but the project has the possibility of damaging the relationship between Eastbourne and the rest of the city.

The city council has been unfairly pushed into having to restore the bus barns, he says.
"This is economic lunacy. They [city council politicians] just listened to the ranters and ravers but I never thought it would actually proceed."

Mr Dellabarca says recent publicity about the project has resulted in "numerous" phone calls from concerned Eastbourne residents who want the project stopped.

The city council should have stood up to those who threatened to break away as it was an empty threat, he says.

Eastbourne is part of Hutt City and has done well since amalgamation. He believes most locals accept that.
Mr Dellabarca says the barns are in a poor state and he does not believe it can be restored for $2.2 million.

He says he has spoken to councillors Angus Finlayson and David Bassett who have encouraged him to speak out.

If he gets enough support he plans to organise a petition. Mr Bassett says he voted for the project in good faith but has always had doubts about it.

Council officers assured politicians it could be restored at that price, but he says Mr Finlayson and others in the building trade have told him they do not believe it is achievable and there are guesstimates up to $5 million.

City council manager Stuart Duncan says it is ''not a secret'' that the budget is ''very tight'' and could be difficult to achieve.

The council is currently tendering the work and should know the price within five weeks. If the best price is over budget, the matter goes back to councillors.

If the tenders were to be in line with the estimates being bandied about by opponents, he says, he would have to recommend the project be abandoned.

Mayor David Ogden says that while he initially voted against the Korohiwa project, the council is a long way down the track.

The buildings have an NZ Historic Places Trust listing and cannot legally be demolished. There has been extensive consultation with Eastbourne people, and Mr Ogden believes Mr Dellabarca is far too late to be raising opposition.

A contract with NZ Bus will bring in $100,000 in revenue a year, so the deal will make a 5 per cent return, he said. ''I see this as logical, a good investment,'' he said.

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