Whakatāne District Council has almost $59,000 left over from the redevelopment of its building.

In a final report to council on the redevelopment last week, the council heard that not only had the redevelopment project been completed on time and under budget, but that it had already had a positive impact on the council’s recruitment prospects.

Michelle Trudgen, change manager for the building redevelopment project, talked about the impact the improvements in staff safety and flexibility of the new work environment had on staff.

“People have talked to me about the flexibility they have now, in the way we work and how it has completely changed their family life.”

She said even some people who were against the rebuild originally and thought it was “a massive waste of money” but now they loved the new way they were working.

“The ability to work in a way that is flexible and works for them has been a massive benefit. In the past few months we have been able to recruit some incredible talent. Some of those people could have gone and worked in Wellington and other places.”

The total project expenditure was $13,649,541 from a budgeted $13,707,500. This included a final construction cost of $10,803,447.

Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.