It took only three hours for the Timaru District Council to scrap the $57 million plan for the Theatre Royal and Heritage Facility Project in Stafford St for a new site.
At an extraordinary council meeting on Tuesday, councillors opted to go ahead with a new option which will see a new theatre, museum, library and civic space built, potentially at the existing Timaru Library location in Sophia St.
The exact site of the proposed new facility was not confirmed, but it was heavily suggested the Sophia St location would be the leading contender.
The new ‘‘Plan B’’ was a late suggestion in the years-long debate, and was said to have been suggested through a public submission.
It was touted that the new facility would be of similar or slightly higher cost to the theatre and heritage facility plan, which had a proposed cost of $57.1m and had been worked towards for six years.
Councillors were warned that going for an alternative plan and site meant there was a possibility of losing the remaining $6.8m in Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment funding, due to breaking contract.
The meeting was chaired by deputy mayor Scott Shannon, as Timaru Mayor Nigel Bowen withdrew from the table, and began with Theatre Royal upgrade project lead Nicole Timney talking councillors through a fly-through look of option one — the theatre and museum complex — followed by a fly-through of option two, the theatre, museum, library and council chambers facility.
Chief executive Nigel Trainor then spoke on the pros, cons and cost of each option, providing councillors with interest and depreciation figures as well as information on how rates would be affected.
The next 30 minutes consisted of councillors questioning what they heard and raising concerns about the different options.
Crs Allan Booth and Stu Piddington both wanted the discussion to remain in public; however, it was argued that due to the commercial nature of the project and there still being unconfirmed costs, it would not be possible.
An hour into the meeting, councillors went into a public-excluded session for a further hour.
Upon resuming in open meeting further discussion took place.
Cr Booth labelled the $57.1m cost for option one ‘‘nuts’’ and said he was very much in favour of adapting a more holistic view that included the library space.
‘‘That library site will actually underpin the redevelopment of our CBD. It’s critical that that will be the catalyst for the rejuvenation of our CBD.
‘‘We are going to get the best of a new theatre, a new museum, a nice sunny spot, a civic space for everyone to go to. It’s a no-brainer.’’
After further discussion around option one’s contingency level of 7.2%, and future requirements to upgrade other council-owned buildings, Cr Booth moved to decline option one and start looking at option two, and pursue public consultation on that.
His motion was seconded by Cr Michelle Pye.
Cr Owen Jackson spoke against the motion and said the risk of not doing option one outweighed the risks of going ahead with it.
‘‘[Option two] has some merit, but it’s come right at the very death. Where was this plan years ago? Why didn’t it come forward much earlier in the piece?
‘‘It looks like a great plan, I totally agree, but it feels rushed. I don’t feel confident that the $56m laid out in front of us for Plan-B-plus will be what it is two years from now.’’
He said he supported going ahead with the Theatre Royal heritage centre plan.
‘‘It’s time to be bold and brave and get on with it.’’
Cr Peter Burt was also in support of option one, but said he would support anything that came out of the decision-making process.
Voting in favour of the motion were Crs Booth, Pye, Shannon, Stacey Scott, Gavin Oliver, Sally Parker, and Stu Piddington. Crs Jackson and Burt voted against.
The meeting concluded at 1pm and Mr Trainor was charged with returning to the council with a plan for option two in a week, and releasing to the public as much information as possible from the public excluded section of the meeting.
