Manpower opens for restructuring operation in new government quarter – VG

This restructuring operation could put the entire gigantic construction project at risk.

– I must say that I am very surprised by the new signals from the Labor Party, says responsible minister Nikolai Astrup (H) to VG.

Because although especially Sp and SV, but also Frp, have savagely protested against this price and demanded a reduction, the Labor Party has remained quiet in the boat, until now.

The party’s new views are set out in the party committee’s comments on the consideration of the state budget next year, to which VG has had access:

“The Storting is asking the government to return to the Storting with a case assessing the possibilities for cost reduction and reduction. This may include conserving some of the current buildings, reviewing and assessing security requirements and not bringing all ministries together in same area “, write the party representatives in the municipal committee of the Storting.

Worked intensely

As far as VG knows, the Labor Party faction has worked intensively for several days to formulate these statements, in close collaboration with the party’s top leadership. Considering how hard the party was hit by the terrorist acts of July 22, 2011, the rebuilding of the government quarter is a particularly sensitive issue internally within the Labor Party.

The two most important premises for the project so far have been extremely strict and very expensive security requirements, and the condition that all ministries share the same site in the center of Oslo.

It struck like a bomb in the entire political environment when the Ministry of Local Government in the draft state budget stated that the three construction stages in the new government district, plus the infrastructure investments in the surrounding area, can cost between 26.5 and 36.5 billion crowns.

Internally in the Erna Solberg government, there have been disagreements over the construction of a new government quarter. The Liberal Party in particular has expressed its disagreement on the scope, but the FRP has also been highly critical.

He stood on his

However, the Conservatives have stood their ground, but have always had support for the main features of the Labor Party building project in the Storting. The Conservatives and the Labor Party together have a majority in the National Assembly.

However, the reorientation of the Labor Party can change all this, if the government fails to convince the party that the current plan is necessary and correct.

The party’s municipal policy spokesperson, Storting Stein representative Erik Lauvås, responds to this when VG asks him to say what the party means by “review and assess security requirements”.

– Security assessments must be carried out by the ministry. The responsibility for this rests with the government. We request an assessment of the security requirements that have been established. Today, we have no preconditions to say something about whether it should be like this or like this about security. Therefore, comments are formulated as is.

Safety requirements

– But is it open for the Storting to do something about security requirements?

– The Storting has the power to do something about most things, but there is speculation. We must have as many facts on the table as possible.

– If you relax security, can you cut costs?

– That’s what we want answers. I don’t know what the requirements are.

– Does this mean that you want the Storting to evaluate the information that the government provides immediately, also on security?

– Yes. But we are concerned that as much detail as possible needs to be clarified. This is the first time we have seen a concrete sum on how much a new government quarter will cost. It is a completely new moment. Previously, this had been estimated at a total of 15 to 20 billion. Suddenly, now we see that that sum can be doubled. Then it is correct, appropriate and reasonable for us to obtain this information from the government.

Flip all the stones

– The Labor Party has previously agreed on the premise that all ministries should be co-located. Are these observations, therefore, a change of opinion on this?

– Yes. But we are not saying that we demand that it no longer be shared. We say it should be part of the evaluation if it can reduce costs. Here we have to flip all the stones.

– When should the government go to the Storting?

– They must do it as soon as possible. Now it’s been a long time. The bomb exploded in 2011, and now we will write 2021 soon. We should try to get a clarification of this as quickly as possible, while doing it thoroughly. I don’t want to set a date.

Astrup protests

The Minister of Local Government, Nikolai Astrup (H), has the political responsibility of a new government district.

– Do you agree with the Labor Party’s demand that you come to the Storting?

– I must say that I am very surprised by the new signals from the Labor Party, because all the proposals that are being tabled now have been thoroughly considered before. The Labor Party is familiar with the security requirements that apply. It is the Safety Law, which the Storting strengthened on the basis of the Gjørv Commission report and the lessons learned after July 22, that sets the guidelines. And these guidelines were the foundation when the Storting approved the concept for the new government quarter no later than 2019, Astrup says.

It notes that ministries are vulnerable targets for intelligence and terrorism.

– Today’s ministry facilities do not meet the requirements of the Security Law if we are to sit there permanently. With the terrorist incident of 2011 fresh in our minds, we cannot take the security of ministries and government lightly.

– So in your opinion, there is not much you can do with the cost framework that exists now?

– Absolutely no one wants to spend so much money on a new government district, but they are not free to sit down like us either. We have spent almost NOK 4 billion on rent alone since 2014. We have invested NOK 4.5 billion on building demolition and new infrastructure. We have a plot ready to build. So the time has come to take back the government room almost ten years after the terror. The ministries have socially critical functions, and that means that we must ensure the quarter. It’s not free, but those features need to be protected no matter where in town they are. So it’s cheaper to insure one block than to insure many buildings around the city, Astrup says.

– Already reduced

– We have reduced the project by 28,000 square meters. The area per employee will be 30 percent less than what is common in the state today. The green-reds think it was too small, but luckily it didn’t make it, Astrup says.

– The Storting will now take a position on construction phase 1 and an allocation of NOK 1.3 billion in 2021 so that we can start the construction and rehabilitation of Høyblokken. Then the government will return to the question of whether it is necessary to carry out construction stages 2 and 3. If the Storting wants to take new rounds of the concept now, the price will increase and time will pass. That would be very unfortunate. But if the Storting wants a case, they will of course get it, Astrup says.

Stein Erik Lauvås tells VG that the Labor Party will vote for the allocation of NOK 1.3 billion in the state budget.

The leader of the Labor Party city council and member of the Labor Party central board, Raymond Johansen, supports his party colleagues in the Storting.

– The Oslo City Council will not have a government quarter as large as the government has proposed. We don’t want a fortress in the center of Oslo. This will have significant negative consequences for the Oslo city center and for the residents of Oslo. There will be so-called perimeter fuses, which is an area around the government quarter, which means that much of the city center will be less accessible to people and we will have less space for commerce, urban life, private workplaces, public transportation and traffic, says Raymond Johansen.

Waste in the government quarter

Sps leader Trygve Slagsvold Vedum demands a downscaling anyway.

– We have been very specific. We have identified buildings that can be reduced and that part of the existing building stock should be used. We must include guidelines in the comments in the state budget of the parliamentary majority this fall. We can enter a Storting order in it. You have to pull the emergency brake now, Vedum tells VG

– Seems carefree

The former minister is very critical of the government’s position:

– Conservatives seem completely unconcerned by such public spending. This is people’s tax money. Erna Solberg and Nikolai Astrup seem completely carefree, it seems like Erna Solberg thinks this is just for starters, and then those who come after get the bill, Vedum is enraged.

SV leader Audun Lysbakken is fully aligned.

– We demand that the government present a case on this, because now we have to stop so that costs do not skyrocket altogether. We will not accept that the Government continues now as usual. We have to get a proper round at the Storting and we are ready to demand it together with other parties, he says.

Helge André Njåstad from FRP is not so concerned if the government returns to the Storting, but states:

– FRP is very clear that the government quarter is too expensive. The FRP also pointed this out in government. New rounds must be made to reduce costs. Most people will not accept that $ 36 billion is spent in Oslo on a new government quarter.