New cultural facility possible

THE $6 million redevelopment of the Forrester Gallery remains listed as a ‘‘major project’’ in the Waitaki District Council’s longterm plan, despite the council pushing the reset button on the 7yearold Cultural Facilities Development Project in March.

And now another ‘‘significant’’ cultural or heritage attraction could be in the works.

Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher this week said he could not comment publicly yet on what was planned for the gallery, the North Otago Museum and the Waitaki District Archive.

But councillors had discussed several options in workshops since a March 12 workshop, when councillors decided to reset the project and pursue opportunities presented by the Government’s inaugural $1 billionayear provincial growth fund, he said.

An amalgamation of the gal lery, museum and archive — for which the council had earmarked $1.9 million, secured $1.6 million in external funding, and said last year it expected to secure a further $2.5 million in external funding — ‘‘has been taken out of the options’’, Mr Kircher said.

But referring to comments he made on social media last week, he said there was a possibility of a major new facility for the district.

‘‘I think the reality is we are working through it . . . If it happens, it would be really exciting.’’

Plans for the councilowned gallery, museum and archive also needed to be discussed further before they were made public, he said.

Council chief executive Fergus Power said there had been ‘‘no decision’’ on the cultural facilities development project.

He referred questions about the Forrester Gallery to Mr Kircher.