You could build four small houses for that.

My full opinion to the ODT:

Hi Grant,

I am most uncomfortable with the spending of $2.1 million on the titivation of the Civic Centre second floor.

This DCC second-floor spend echo’s the ORC’s new palatial $60 million HQ less than two years before they are disestablished for many good reasons.

Hopefully Amalgamation may see an end to such bureaucratic self-serving in local Government.

The second floor worked quite well as it was with Mayoral, CEO and senior staff offices and did not require a complete rearrangement in my view. Some fresh paint and paper would have done the job.

The second floor cultural imbalance struck me as soon as I exited the lift, with only Faux Maori artwork and designs splashed lavishly everywhere at the exclusion of any other cultural Artwork or design.

It was disappointing if not surprising that no non-Maori Artwork or designs from our Dunedin Public Art Gallery massive storage department has been displayed on many blank walls.

The lack of flow between spaces with obscure glass sliding doors on both sides of the main conference room is disappointing as are grey or dark earth tones and the complicated spotty lighting that embarrassingly goes up and down of its own accord.

I have had a complaint from one of the sparkies who installed the new lighting on the second floor saying that it was the most expensive computer-controlled lighting he had installed and not needed or even working well in the space.

Having run a lighting business for 20 years myself, I agree.

The real kicker is the cost however, with $2.1 million just for the second floor switch arounds and finishings, again in the poor value tradition of a $600,000 George st playground and a $750,000 disability-only toilet at the Railway Station.

Cheers,

Lee