Simpson Scott: Arts Centre of Christchurch Trust Bill — In CommitteeText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeSimpson Scott: Arts Centre of Christchurch Trust Bill — In Committee[Sitting date: 06 May 2015. Volume:705;Page:3269. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]SCOTT SIMPSON (National—Coromandel):It is a pleasure and a delight as chair of the Local Government and Environment Committee to take a call in the Committee stage of the Arts Centre of Christchurch Trust Bill. Just before I start my speech I do want to thank members from across the Chamber for their contributions at the select committee and for the very thoughtful meaningful and collaborative way that we were able to negotiate our way through this piece of legislation. The select committee made a number of recommended changes to the bill as originally introduced and they I think have undoubtedly gone to make this a better bill with a better outcome not only for the Arts Centre buildings themselves but for the trust that is charged with governing the heritage and the ongoing protection of this remarkable set of buildings that is so important to the people of Canterbury and Christchurch.The select committee was privileged to actually go and visit the area known as the Arts Centre during the submission stages and I think that very much helped the members who are not Cantabrians to understand the full meaning and significance of that collection of buildings to the people of Canterbury. The Hon Nicky Wagner in her comments as sponsor of the bill made the point that this set of buildings actually goes quite a long way towards representing the tangible rebuild of Christchurch far beyond the precinct that is just the Arts Centre. In a way it is a sort of a beacon of hope and inspiration for the rest of the rebuild of Canterbury and Christchurch City. I think that this bill which will ultimately mean that the governance structure of the Arts Centre organisation is in good stead for the future will be very welcomed by the people of Canterbury.As we went through the bill one of issues that came up was the whole question of the stone buildings. I think that those of us who do not come from Canterbury who maybe have been visitors to the area before wanted to put into the legislation a reflection that the stone buildings were deeply significant and meaningful to the whole structure of this bill but notwithstanding that there were actually some buildings in the complex that are not stone and Megan Woods has mentioned repeatedly the Dux de Lux. I do not have any recollection of the Dux de Lux but there you go.Hon Amy Adams: If you had a good night you didn’t have any recollection of the Dux de Lux.SCOTT SIMPSON: Well many people the Hon Amy Adams is telling me do not have recollections of the Dux de Lux after a good night. But I am wondering whether the sponsoring member might take a further call later in this debate. I am keen to know a little bit more about that whole area of the stone versus the non-stone part of the building.One of the suggestions that the select committee made was that clause 6 of the bill be amended. In addition it recommended that a new clause—clause 12—be added to schedule 2. That new clause would enable the trust board to amend its constitution. I think that on balance that was something the select committee thought was sensible and practical and it probably made the legislation better for having been included. We recommended that in addition to the requirement for the board to register the trust’s constitution any subsequent amendments should be registered in accordance with the Charitable Trusts Act in the same way that the trust deeds are governed by that new piece of legislation. I think that too was a welcome and sensible addition to the original bill as it was introduced to the House.The amendment to clause 6 of the bill will remove the ability of the Governor-General to by Order in Council amend schedule 2 of the bill. On the surface members might be thinking: “Well why would you want to do that? Why would that be in any way advantageous?”. The simple matter is that this change will avoid the prospect of any subsequent secondary legislation amending the provisions of this bill. I think that again is an important piece of ring-fencing if you like just to ensure that the future governance of the Arts Centre trust is protected in a way that ensures that it goes on for a very long time in the future.There were a number of other changes that the select committee made and I would like to just draw the attention of the Committee to them. One was that we wanted to amend clause 5(c) of schedule 2 to require that the trust board make the conservation plan for the Arts Centre available at its annual general meetings. This was a matter that received significant interest and debate around the committee table and indeed there were a number of submitters who made the point that a heritage complex such as this needed to have a conservation plan that was available for public scrutiny public input and public consultationThey also said it needed to be a living plan. It should not be a plan that was presented just once and then not reviewed looked at or changed at any time in the future. It needed to be a document that would take into account all the best aspects of the complex working into the future. This change will enable the trust board to engage with its key stakeholders of whom there are many about the work that is currently being done on the complex and also about what the future shape and style and nature of the Arts Centre will be not just in the next couple of years but in the next 10 20 30 40 or however many years ahead. The whole intention of that change was to effectively futureproof the conservation aspect and management of the Arts Centre.I think from memory there were 23 buildings as part of the Arts Centre and all but one were significantly and severely damaged as a result of the earthquakes. In terms of the heritage rebuild we were told as a committee that the work that is being done now if not the largest heritage reconstruction going on anywhere in the world at the moment is certainly right up there. Something like $270 million is being spent on the rebuild and there are craftsmen and master stonemasons from all over the world who are taking part in this very important and historic rebuild of the Arts Centre.But the main purpose of this legislation is to provide heritage futureproofing for the Arts Centre which means so much to the people of Canterbury and Christchurch. I absolutely commend the local member Nicky Wagner for sponsoring this bill and bringing it to the House in the form of a local bill. It is exactly the appropriate format for it but I would like it if the member can at some stage address some questions or give us some more information about the nature of the stone buildings and why the aspect of stone is so important to the heritage of the Arts Centre in Christchurch and to the Canterbury people.I think that about sums up the contribution that I want to make. There were many good submissions received. It was an absolute pleasure to visit Christchurch and then to visit the Arts Centre as part of our work on the select committee. It was a pleasure also to see the dedicated nature of the craftsmen and of the board which is doing such good work and to see the work of the board’s chair Jen Crawford. She is leading a very good governance team. The chief executive officer André Lovatt is completely committed charged and passionate about the work that is being done.I am completely confident that this piece of legislation when it eventually passes through this House will secure the long-term heritage future of the Arts Centre in a way that could not have occurred without a relook at and a rehash of the governance structure of this very important body.I absolutely commend this bill to the Committee of the whole House and I am looking forward to the contribution that other members will no doubt want to make as we move this important and significant piece of Canterbury legislation through the Committee stage and onward through Parliament. Thank you.