The Project Steering Group (PSG) for the Manawatū Library transformation met last week and has made the difficult but necessary decision to pause the project, in the interests of containing expenditure on the university’s capital investment. Due to COVID-19 driven delays, inflation costs and supply chain issues, alongside increasing pressure on the university’s ten year capital plan, the PSG, with the support of the Senior Leadership Team, has determined that work on the current concept cannot be progressed at this time.
PSG chair, Provost Professor Giselle Byrnes says that when seen in the context of the university’s known capital costs and relative to other large-scale capital projects, it is simply unaffordable to proceed with the project right now.
“The Manawatū Library is a critical part of the university’s infrastructure; it is the physical heart of the campus. The Senior Leadership Team remains committed to this project and to transforming the Manawatū library, but we need to also balance this commitment with other known expenses. It is important that staff and students know this is a pause and not a stop to the project.”
The Manawatū Library, which in the original business plan is described as a place to get things done remains open as per its advertised opening hours. The PSG will continue to work to plan for the future.