Support claim for $100m project

Bulk and scale indicators of the three library museum options. Photo: Supplied.

Most people surveyed about cultural facilities for the city support the concept of a new museum and library, according to a recent survey of 400 community members.

In a statement on Thursday the council says 64 per cent of those surveyed support the development of a museum for Tauranga.

The survey data and technical reports were presented at the City Transformation Committee workshop today for the facilities business case for the project that in one option may cost about $100 million.

A stand-alone library is estimated to cost $48 million, a stand-alone museum $59m. An integrated museum and library is expected to set ratepayers back $82m, and the stand alone museum and library, that is a museum at Cliff Road and a library at Willow Street, $107m.

But with external funding from government and other agencies, the ratepayers share is expected to be reduced to $5.5m for the stand alone library, $33m for the museum on its own, $39m for the integrated museum and library, and $38m for the stand alone library and stand-alone museum.

The two-day exercise has been presenting information on each option to committee members who will make a recommendation to council on December 5, for inclusion in the 2018/2028 Long Term Plan. The public will then be consulted in April 2018 on that preferred option.

Councillors today heard from Mark Cox and Fiona Stokes, Senior Economists from BERL with a depth of experience in galleries, libraries, arts and museum sector.

'I'm pleased we are getting to this point with the project, we have heard the message from our community to get on and do it, and next week we will have an agreed direction,” says committee chair Larry Baldock

'Creating a place that connects to the heart and mind of the community is no easy feat,” says Larry.

'This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to create something that responds to what our community has asked for – creating a sense of belonging, connecting communities, and the value in telling our story.

'We never went into this thinking it would be easy, and the support and encouragement from the community has been fantastic.”

The final community open day on the cultural projects is this Saturday where people are welcome to visit the Engagement Hub, learn more about the options being considered, and see all the technical information and results of the community engagement and public survey.

The engagement hub is at 2 Devonport Road opposite Whitcoulls and is open from 10am till 4pm.

For more information visit.

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15 comments

400 out of 100 000

Posted on 01-12-2017 15:55 | By tabatha

What percentage is this, and you can bet your bottom dollar they are a selected group. Only way around this as many have said over the years, is a binding referendum. Time elected members and their guiding one listened to those who have to fork out. Yes 400 if they pay for the whole item and no cost to the rest of Tauranga for ever.


How Come?

Posted on 01-12-2017 16:31 | By sangrae

How come 64% of 400 people in a recent survey can influence this outcome today were the 400 paid staff of the council another inside job, Larry Baldock must have no ears as i understand the majority of Tauranga have already said NO to the Museum project maybe he does not want to be elected next election remember what happened last time.


Democracy Tauranga Style

Posted on 01-12-2017 17:01 | By backofthequeue

Survey 400 people in a city of over 100,000 and announce that "most people" support the concept. Based on social commentary it would be more accurate to suggest that "most people" would like to see a referendum on this non essential expenditure as has been repeatedly called for.


62% of 400 !!!!!

Posted on 01-12-2017 17:11 | By Maryfaith

Why don't they get out and do a proper survey - among the average ratepayers! Where did they find the 400 people? There are over 100,000 people live in this area and they are claiming that 62% 0f the 400 favoured their wasteful project! This is not fair - not democratic - is in fact bordering on criminal!WE MUST HAVE A REFERENDUM!!


museum

Posted on 01-12-2017 17:45 | By dumbkof2

did they only ask the people who want a museum. within an hour i could get 400 people who dont want any of these grandiose things


What support? Wh?

Posted on 01-12-2017 18:00 | By MISS ADVENTURE

There are millions being poured into this scam to try and self justify it, to try and have a mega spendup and so feel good but no meaningful results can or will ever result from it. The bills already must be many millions already and it is all a complete waste fo time.


A rigged survey

Posted on 01-12-2017 19:47 | By Captain Sensible

Where was this survey carried out.....in the TCC cafeteria ?


What exactly...

Posted on 01-12-2017 22:44 | By waiknot

Was the question asked in the survey? The claimed support is of no value without knowing what exactly was asked. And how the survey was carried out. Do I trust the integrity of the survey? Absolutely Not.


copy of survey questions please

Posted on 02-12-2017 10:58 | By Sam Bailey

What a utter joke, I was one of the people surveyed, and simply the entire thing was: If we are getting this, what do you want in it. No in-depth questions on funding it, costs etc, just the details on the wish lists of those surveyed, and the group I was in had some great ideas, and everytime I asked about funding it I got told I could ask those questions at the end, and surprise surprise there was not enough time at the end to cover such questions. I had one key point, anything like it has to be a self funding visitor attraction, not a rate payer funded monument to fiscal stupidity. They did a reverse engineered survey. And the back up phone call, well those questions need releasing as well, more of the same.


256 people want a museum!

Posted on 02-12-2017 11:49 | By Maryfaith

A survey of 400 people? .... and 64% of them want a museum. So 256 people want a museum. The population of this area is over 100,000! The democratic thing to do would be to have a referendum before committing us to this massive rate rise. The Mayor promised to put a stop to the soaring debt caused by the 'wish list' of a few. He has failed miserably - while the infrastructure and roads are calling out for repair and upgrades.


Funding?

Posted on 02-12-2017 16:41 | By phoenix

Why not have the ratepayer funding on your rates demand,as a voluntary payment,so all those who want this monumental spend-up can pay for it. That would be the majority of Tauranga rate payers according to the published 64% in favour brigade.


400 out of 120,000 odd

Posted on 02-12-2017 17:25 | By MISS ADVENTURE

That is 0.33% ... so small a percentage. The error rate on such a small sample and very much loaded questions would mean the error rate in it will be some 80-90% wrong. Thsi then is "created" as justification to spend many millions on studies and investigations ... then madness never stops.


QUESTION??

Posted on 04-12-2017 13:42 | By waiknot

Whether people want a museum is not even the correct question. The correct first question should be CAN TAURANGA AFFORD A MUSEUM. Going by the mayors comments regards cost of future growth clearly the answer is no.


@ waiknot

Posted on 04-12-2017 16:58 | By MISS ADVENTURE

Tauranga is just an average growth city compared to all across NZ, nothing special happening here except that the debt has already been ramped up heaps. That is as a result of crazy decisions to date on many things that are no infrastructure and are in fact "nice to haves" that cost to setup, run at a loss and create mushroom like debt. Result... TCC then bemoans "failed promises" from Government for interest free loans obviously in the hope that this windfall was going to boost teh spending prowess of all the muppet brains there and allow unprecedented, lofty, extravagant spendign to run rampant and uncontrolled like the last decade, one council trying to out do the previous with more and more wildly rash spendings.


The huge spend?

Posted on 05-12-2017 00:30 | By MISS ADVENTURE

Its clear from the illustrations that teh plans envisaged are extreme, grandious and extravagant. teh monies needed to rustle up this lot will be well over $120 million and we all know Tauranga Council s broke, out of cash, and massive debt is alraedy there with a lot more to come already without all of these nutty fetishes of a tiny few. What say a few (perhaps a 100 ratepayers) wanted all to pay for lavish desires of this scale, then all got into it, each 100 or so ratepayers... that would add to some $70,000,000,000 ($70-billion). Perhaps the extravgance becomes more obvious in that context.


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