Plans to improve stand-alone cultural facilities

The Waitaki District Council plans to  improve access to the Forrester Gallery, create better storage for collections and mount better displays at the North Otago Museum as stand-alone cultural facilities.

But the plans for what work will actually be done have yet to be developed.

The council last year approved a capital budget of $5,999,999 for a planned amalgamation of the gallery, museum and the Waitaki District Archive at the gallery’s 1882 Heritage New Zealand category 1 registered Thames St site. It raised $1,840,000 in external funding for the project — but then scrapped the plan in March.

Council people and culture group manager Lisa Baillie’s report to council, tabled this week, argues a "potential negative effect" is possible with both funders and the community if "inaction continues".

Further, "overdue deferred maintenance", including upgrades to lighting, carpets, dehumidifiers and security systems, was required, she said.

To upgrade the gallery, museum and archive, councillors approved "any costs" related to council officers developing a "preferred option" based upon a detailed analysis of options previously discussed at closed-session workshops. The work would be funded from the previous project’s budget.

Councillors also voted to reinstate service levels after they were dropped in anticipation of the amalgamation last year.

Cr Melanie Tavendale said she did not want to see "our facilities sitting there".

"It just needs to happen," she said.

"We need to look after these buildings and move forward."

Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said the council was still "looking at how to improve what we had" but was now "looking in slightly different directions".

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