The suggestion came in a report to today's Dunedin City Council meeting, the last before rates are set on June 22, called to consider recommendations from this year's annual plan hearings.
The Otago Theatre Trust told the council at hearings last month the theatre needed urgent work on its counterweights and fly tower, and upgrades of its dressing rooms and auditorium.
A report from council community life general manager Graeme Hall said design drawings could be completed in the coming financial year within a funding envelope of $350,000, but the council's funding of $4.8 million "needs to await both the consultation through the next annual plan process, and the Otago Theatre Trust funding" before a final commitment.
If the project went ahead, construction would start in October next year.
Concerns were aired at the annual plan meetings that the need for funding should have been raised earlier, and that the spending should be subject to public consultation.
Trust chairman Michael Shield said the time-frame fitted in with what the trust was doing, as it was six to seven months before the design drawing stage was expected to be finalised.
• The council is looking to charitable trusts to help pay for closed circuit television cameras in the Octagon.
Various groups, including the council and city businesses, have been pushing the idea for some time to help reduce criminal behaviour in the city.
A report to the council from customer advocate Adrian Blair said the installation cost would be split between rates funding of $155,000 and external funding of $50,000.
"While not all charitable trusts approached have been supportive, there is definite interest in the project, with at least four funding applications pending."
The council will vote on a recommendation to confirm its intent to proceed with the cameras, and authorise chief executive Jim Harland to identify trusts, and apply for funding.
