New Zealand Local Weather Forum
Climate and Science => National Earthquakes => Topic started by: Suezy on July 24, 2012, 05:46:45 PM
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Radio Network House implosion auctioned
ANNA TURNER
Last updated 11:48 24/07/2012
Daniel Tobin
The Press is shown inside Radio Network House as it is prepared for implosion on August 5.
RADIO NETWORK HOUSE: New Zealand's first building implosion is the subject of an online auction.
The online auction for the chance to blow up the 14-storey Radio Network House reached $6000 within an hour.
Naylor Love and Ceres New Zealand, which are responsible for the demolition, said today that the chance to initiate New Zealand's first building implosion was being auctioned on Trade Me, with funds going towards the restoration of the Isaac Theatre Royal.
The auction went live at 11am, starting with a $1 reserve, but by noon it was up to $6000.
The proceeds of the auction will go to the Canterbury Earthquake Heritage Buildings Fund, which was established after the September 2010 quake to financially assist owners of heritage buildings with quake damage.
The fund has decided to give the money to help with the repair of the Isaac Theatre Royal, which was badly damaged in the February 2011 quake.
The implosion of the building will take place at 8am on August 5 and use about 63 kilograms of explosives.
Ceres long-term recovery manager Bill Johnson said they had considered selling the rights to push the button for some time but had first needed to work out the logistics.
"We had calls from random people putting bids in over the phone before we even announced an auction. There was one offering of $6000 and a follow-up one with a few conditions for $10,000,'' he said.
"Maybe some of these people could now get in early with some bids and step up to the plate. It's quite a special opportunity. We think there will be a lot of interest."
Johnson hoped companies would recognise the "unique exposure" and the bonus of assisting Canterbury's heritage buildings.
Isaac Theatre Royal general manager Neil Cox said he was "totally happy" about the auction.
"It's quite an exciting opportunity and we're very glad the funds are going towards the theatre."
Insurance would cover most of the $28 million needed to cover the repairs and rebuild of the theatre, but there was a deficit, he said.
Through fundraising, the theatre had managed to raise $2m but needed a further $3.5m to make up the difference.
"We are very confident we will get there,'' Cox said.
''It's important for us to note that we're not asking the people of Christchurch to dip into their pockets again. A lot of this support is coming from outside the city."
The theatre hoped to be able to reopen in a "transitional form" next year and then look to a rebuild, Cox said.
Naylor Love regional manager Peter Lockhart said he was pleased the money would go towards the theatre.
"The Isaac Theatre Royal is one of the oldest theatres in Christchurch still in use for a theatre,'' he said.
''For just over a century, the stage at the Theatre Royal has played host to all manner of entertainment, from opera to cinema. There are few Cantabrians who will not have enjoyed a performance at the grand old theatre.
"This is a fantastic flagship project, which shows what can be done to a building with a bit of will and money."
The auction will close at 6.05pm on August 1.
The Government has pledged to match every dollar raised by the Canterbury Earthquake Heritage Building Fund, so the final bid price of the auction will be doubled.
Fund spokeswoman Kristina Pickford said the matching money raised from the auction would go towards another building on the list of restorative projects, which included Cranmer Courts, Riccarton House and the Christchurch Club.
"We appreciate the recognition the fund is getting, along with what we hope will be a significant funding boost," Pickford said.
The fund has already helped the Arts Centre, the Canterbury Club and Fifield House
Copied from The Press
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The number on Trade Me for the auction is 496979166
Ot i up to $10100 now.