Vbase downsizes: cuts 151 jobs

Christhcurch venue operator Vbase has confirmed its downsizing as a result of impacts from the 22nd February earthquake and the transfer of governance and management control to Christchurch City Council (CCC).

In a media statement, Vbase said 45 fulltime staff would lose their jobs on 30th June, while the number of part-time and casual staff had been reduced "in line with the dramatic reduction in event numbers".

The job losses will include the current Vbase board, Chief Executive Bryan Pearson and five senior managers. With CCC assuming governance and management control a new position, General Manager, Vbase, has been created and recruitment will commence shortly. The role will oversee venue business development and event management and report to Council General Manager, Community Services Michael Aitken. Facilities Management, Human Resources, Finance and Administration, IT and Rebuild Capital Projects will be functionally integrated into Council and these services provided to Vbase under a management contract.

A smaller board of Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker, Deputy Mayor Ngaire Button, Council Chief Executive Tony Marryatt and City Councillor Jamie Gough will be appointed to liaise with the council and look after Vbase assets.

In the statement, Pearson said he was "enormously proud" of what the company and its staff had achieved, and added "many of our team have already suffered loss of some kind in their private lives due to the quakes, but despite these stresses have shown remarkable dignity and compassion at this difficult time.

"I am enormously proud of them and what we have achieved together.

"Anxiety and stresses are at a real high, and to consider the loss of your job when you've already experienced loss in other areas of your life because of the earthquake ... we anticipated it would be very, very tough."

Pearson, the board and senior managers are to oversee the transition which will begin from 1st July and take two to three months. The senior managers are expected to leave the company by 31st July, while Pearson said he would go when the transition was complete.

Prior to the earthquake, Vbase hosted more than 1,800 events annually across its four venues (the Christchurch Convention Centre, Christchurch Town Hall for Performing Arts, AMI Stadium and CBS Canterbury Arena). At that time the Vbase team comprised 218 full time equivalent staff, made up of 99 full time positions, 96 part time and 666 casuals.

The restructured organisation now comprises 67 full time equivalent staff, of which 54 are full time positions.

Mayor Bob Parker said the cuts were "unpleasant but unavoidable" adding "it's a sad day at the end of what has been a very hard week in Christchurch."

The downsizing of Vbase is expected to deliver fixed overhead cost savings of $3.8 million per annum and has a one-off cost of $1.4 million.

Among Vbase's venues, CBS Canterbury Arena reopened in March while the other three venues remain closed.

AMI Stadium is expected to reopen in stages throughout 2012 but there is continuing uncertainty about the future of Christchurch Town Hall for Performing Arts and Christchurch Convention Centre, which will remain closed until at least end of 2013. Assessments are continuing and reassessment is required as a result of the large aftershocks last Monday (13th June).

10th June 2011 - CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE CONTROL OF VBASE

3rd June 2011 - UNCERTAIN FUTURE FOR CHRISTCHURCH’S VBASE

11th April 2011 - VBASE’S PLANS TO BRING CHRISTCHURCH VENUES ‘BACK TO LIFE’