V8s cast big shadow over theatre
In the autumn of 2008, the V8 Supercars took to the streets of Frankton for the inaugural Hamilton 400.
But an event that promised to inject millions of dollars into the city and deliver unprecedented international exposure left ratepayers nursing a $39.4 million hangover.
A decade on and the Hamilton City Council is pinning its hopes on another big-ticket item.
It has committed $25m, in principle, to a proposed regional theatre in the heart of Hamilton’s CBD.
Backers of the 1300-seat theatre say it will put the city on the cultural map.
But, at a council meeting in September, councillor Garry Mallett warned the proposed theatre could be ‘‘this council’s V8s’’.
A submitter, commenting on the council’s draft Long-Term Plan, described the regional theatre proposal as a monstrosity, saying it was a vehicle to support the hospitality outlets in the CBD.
‘‘Perhaps before you vote, you could say ‘V8s’ three times over,’’ the submitter wrote.
Hamilton Deputy Mayor Martin Gallagher encouraged scrutiny of the theatre bid, but said there was a danger the city could become overly cautious in the wake of the V8s.
As MP for Hamilton West, Gallagher lobbied for government support of the Hamilton street race.
He supported the new theatre plan, but said councillors would not allow themselves to be carried away ‘‘by the dream of the theatre project’’, which is being led by philanthropic group Momentum Waikato.
‘‘Personally, I think this will be a game-changer for our CBD in Hamilton if it comes off, but we have to be convinced the business case and the finances all stack up,’’ Gallagher said.
‘‘We will always have the V8s in the back of our mind, but you don’t want it to kill a dream or vision because we have an example of another great vision: the Hamilton Gardens.’’
Former Hamilton deputy mayor Gordon Chesterman said talk that the regional theatre proposal presented another V8s moment was based on emotion.
The council had done a good job keeping the public informed on key aspects of the theatre plan, Chesterman said.
‘‘My big regret from my 12 years on council was that I was one of a unanimous group of councillors who supported the V8s,’’ he said.
‘‘The key difference between the V8s and the theatre proposal is that, with the V8s, ordinary councillors were kept out of the loop on the financial downside of the event, whereas, with the theatre, the information available publicly has been huge.’’
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
creator Richard O’Brien said the council could have done more to consult with those with backgrounds in theatre, such as himself.
O’Brien questioned why backers of the proposed $73m theatre had chosen the site of the old Hamilton Hotel on Victoria St, rather than the existing Founders Theatre site.
Plans to incorporate an art gallery and a boutique hotel into the theatre building had further confused him.
‘‘I have no personal agenda and all I want for Hamilton, and what Hamilton needs, is a robust, working theatre and it seems we’re being pushed in a direction that makes no sense,’’ O’Brien said.
The Founders site was O’Brien’s preferred option, because roads around it could be improved.
The focus on the look of the new theatre was misguided.
‘‘It’s a lot of money and I don’t see any point trying to build some Taj Mahal.
‘‘The National Theatre in London is built out of poured cement.
‘‘Where the money really comes into play is in the interior, with the acoustics and the stage,’’ O’Brien said.
Momentum Waikato chairman Leonard Gardner said the preferred theatre site was chosen following an evaluation process.
O’Brien had attended consultation sessions hosted by Momentum and was welcome to review the theatre proposal to ensure it was on the right track, Gardner said.
‘‘Richard O’Brien is held in such high esteem and is a well-regarded member of our community. We’re more than happy for him to help us,’’ he said.
Hamilton Mayor Andrew King said the council under his leadership only endorsed projects with robust financial plans.
Hamilton needed a new theatre that could cater for modern performance.
Fixing Founders could cost the city $25m or more. For the same price, the city could have a modern theatre.
Any cost overruns with the new theatre would be covered by Momentum, King said.
‘‘I don’t see this as a V8s moment, I see it as really exciting.
‘‘Everything this council does is out there in the open.
‘‘I think it’s sad that we’re still looking back 10 years and blaming things on what happened 10 years ago when we have a different governance group who have a different way of doing things.’’
‘‘It’s a lot of money and I don’t see any point trying to build some Taj Mahal. The National Theatre in London is built out of poured cement. Where the money really comes into play is in the interior, with the acoustics and the stage.’’
Rocky Horror creator Richard O’Brien