New arts theatre gets tick

Hamilton City Council councillors have voted in favour of the Momentum Waikato proposal to build a new performing arts theatre in Hamilton for an estimated $55 million.

The council will contribute a maximum of $30m plus GST, with Momentum Waikato committed to raising the balance of $25m. Council also approved a $100,000 contribution towards the cost of the concept design.

However, the decision on what to do with the Founders Theatre building is still up for discussion.

Mayor Julie Hardaker was confident that government funding agencies and other councils in the region would ‘‘come to the party’’ and contribute.

The decision was made yesterday after three options were presented to councillors for the city’s premiere arts venue: a refurbishment of Founders Theatre, a new build, or a partnership with Momentum Waikato.

Councillors voted unanimously for Momentum Waikato.

Hardaker said the people had spoken and they wanted a decision made now.

‘‘Sometimes there’s a tenancy to drag these things out, particularly in this stage of a three-year term – let’s leave it to someone else.

‘‘But you’ve heard from submitters, they want a decision made, and that’s quite appropriate because that’s what we’re elected to do.’’

She said it was an absolute opportunity for the future of Hamilton and she has seen the relationship between council and community grow.

‘‘Could I suggest that probably, in the past, this wouldn’t have happened. We’ve reached a level of maturity where with major projects, the community now understand that they have a strong role.’’

Councillor Garry Mallett said he was surprisingly supporting it, but for two reasons.

‘‘A, it’s going out to a public consultation, and secondly, I think it is really important we get more clarity on the costs and input on the funding.

‘‘I’m still very concerned that the cost of this thing may be prohibitive for the community,’’ he said.

‘‘There’s a heck of a lot of people in our community who are not aware of this discussion. They grumble because their

rates have been going up, and they don’t use these facilities.

‘‘They are under a lot of pressure, they just pay their rates [bills] when they turn up every three months. ‘‘It will hit them in their pocket.’’ Council staff will investigate options on the 54-year-old Founders Theatre building and report back to the council on September 29.

Options include reopening Founders in the interim to use for other purposes, retaining Founders in the long term for other uses, or to demolish Founders immediately.

Chief executive Richard Briggs has delegated authority to prepare a heads of agreement between Momentum Waikato and Hamilton City Council.

Staff will report back to council on February 27, 2017, with the agreement and concept design recommendation for council approval.

A special consultative procedure may be required before council can resolve final approval for the agreement. Briggs is to provide appropriate advice at the February meeting.

Founders Theatre was closed in February due to health and safety concerns and a later report found another problem: it’s earthquake prone.

Since then, almost 2300 people and organisations have had their say on Founders’ future.

An independent assessment of the venue’s flying system indicated it was at risk of failure.