MAJOR MILESTONES

 

1966 ......................................................2026

The Big Project

As of this Saturday, it is officially complete!

All the scaffolding will be down, the paintwork complete, and most garages and parking spaces returned.

There will of course be odd bits and pieces, as the endings of big projects tend to involve, but Gazelle will still be visible, and defects that remain will be fixed. 

Saying goodbye ...

will be hard.  We have become so accustomed to the busyness, and the bright smiles, and the general racket that it will seem strange.  Aoraki and their sub-teams have been amazing.  So friendly and helpful.  And, as Gazelle confided today, they have enjoyed meeting us all, and getting to know the Herbert Gardens community.

That earthquake-prone sticker

The last documentation to the WCC should be handed in, early June, and then it is up to the council to review the rating.  Crossed fingers that sticker will be off the front and back doors in July.

Foyer

Doesn't it look great?  So light and airy, And yes, the splodges of plaster that have been walked onto the stone floor will be removed.

The question now is how to decorate.  We don't really want the foyer to look like the entrance to a grand hotel.  Next thing, people would walk in from the street, and look for the reception desk so they can book a room for the night!  We are a community, and the foyer should look like our lounge.

So how do we decorate?  Here's an idea!  There is some wonderful artwork in this building, owned by discerning residents.  If some of this could be loaned to the building for the foyer, even if just for a short time, it would be fun.  I am happy to lend one of Ron Druett's great paintings, for instance. 

All ideas welcome.

Elevators

People have commented that it has gone very quiet in the shaft.  The work is being done off-site at the moment, with brackets being manufactured according to the scans that were made by Otis and Aoraki. Soon the brackets will be ready, and the work in the shaft will recommence.  The fittings for the car are also being assembled.  So don't fear that we have been forgotten.  And here, as a reminder, is a rundown of the lift work, both done and what is coming:

The overall process:

• Otis remove old Lift 1
• Aoraki prepare shaft 1 for new lift install
• Otis install new Lift 1
• Lift 1 operational
• Otis remove old Lift 2
• Aoraki prepare shaft 2 for new lift install
• Otis install new Lift 2
• Both lifts operational

 

The detailed step through:

Lift 1

What has been done:

• Safety screen installed to centre of shaft – so works for install of new lift can be done while existing keeps working
• Lift 1 removed completely.
• Lift 1 side of shaft handed over from Otis to Aoraki
• Aoraki scaffold installed to Lift 1 side of shaft
• Aoraki site measure for additional steelwork required for new lift. Fabrication drawings approved.

 

What is happening now:

• Fabrication of steelwork.

 

What happens next:

• Installation of steelwork (Aoraki)
• Aoraki upgrade electrical supply
• Otis commence their steel install from scaffold
• Scaffold out
• Lift 1 install.

Repeat above for Lift 2

 

 Target remains for Lift 1 complete end July.

Target remains both lifts complete December 2026.