Buildings at Tauranga's Historic Village will be assessed after the discovery of structural issues in one its main complexes.

Renovations to the building known as Complex 2 at the village began in December 2022, but 'significant structural issues” were found in April, causing a $3.4m budget blowout.

These included discontinuous studs, no boundary joist around the first floor, along with roof strapping inconsistencies.

Tauranga City Council's commission approved the extra funding at a meeting this week. The budget for the upgrade project is now $7.2m, up from $3.8m.

The Historic Village is a council owned and managed community facility. It hosts shops, events and community groups in mix of historic and replica buildings on 17th Ave.

A full business case will be prepared and presented to commission to consider the condition of other buildings in the village. Also to ensure that ratepayer contributions are not increased from the $10.6m budgeted in the draft 2024-2034 long-term plan.

Commissioner Bill Wasley wanted to ensure the business case would include 'detailed assessment of all the relevant buildings”.

'Whether it's us or some future council, we don't want a surprise of this quantum.”

Complex 2 was built in the early 1980s mainly by volunteer tradespeople. It sits in the middle of the village centre and is a focal point from the entrance.

Council community services general manager Barbara Dempsey said it was an 'integral building for the operation of the village”.

The original work included upgrading the kitchen, elevators and toilets, says Barbara.

The team carried out a 'massive assessment” of the building but it was only when the wall lining was pulled off they understood that the project had changed, she says.

'It's no longer a significant upgrade. It's now structural upgrade along with the upgrade that we want for the operations of the building.

The team planned to look at all the buildings in the village to 'make the balance sheet better,” says Barbara.

'Whether that's actually earn more money so that we can still upgrade the current buildings or make some tough decisions about some other buildings.”

Work on Complex 2 is expected to be finished by February 2025.

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