Museum at Cliff Road, library on Willow

Cliff Road has been recommended as the site for Tauranga's multi-million dollar museum.

The City Transformation Committee has recommended investment in a museum on Cliff Road with a total cost of $55.65m with $20.65m Council contribution.

A new central library for Willow Street has also been proposed at a total cost of $30m with $25m Council contribution.

These two new facilities are recommended to Council to be included in the draft Long Term Plan 2018-2028.

The Heart of the City team has been working on a Detailed Business Case for a museum and central library, following last year's Long Term Plan Amendment.

In October, Council adopted the options and weighting criteria for cultural facility investment in the city centre.

The confirmed options were:

Option 1: Remediate existing library

Option 2: stand-alone library on Willow Street

Option 3: integrated new library and museum on Willow Street

Option 4: Stand-alone museum on Cliff Road

Option 5: Stand-alone museum on Willow Street

The confirmed options were built upon robust community engagement and stakeholder consultation, showing a high expectation for quality, experience and an iconic building.

Each of the options were then assessed against the following criteria:

• Strategic fit

• Tangata whenua preference for a museum

• Potential affordability

• Potential value for money

• Potential achievability

Yesterday's committee recommendation is a significant milestone following eight months' worth of research, investigation, community and stakeholder engagement and elected member workshops.

Chair of City Transformation Committee, Larry Baldock says in making their recommendation, elected members had to balance the community's expectations and aspirations with affordability.

Tangata Whenua support of a museum was also a significant factor in achieving the outcomes and meeting expectations, he says.

The committee also discussed the affordability of these facilities and has recommended reducing the Council contribution on both the museum and the central library from what was identified in the Economic and Financial case in the Detailed Business Case.

'The challenge now for Council is to assess this budget reduction and review how both cultural facilities can be achieved maintaining the desired outcomes for the community.

'It is important that these cultural facilities happen for our community, we have waited long enough. But we must achieve these with affordability in mind and balance with the wider vision for our growing city."

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46 comments

Great News!

Posted on 06-12-2017 07:46 | By dbunk

This is great news to wake up to, finally will out town have a central hub and a place to hold local taonga, we need to get kids off devices and back into books, we never had then and gosh we turned out fine! Thanks Council and keep up the great work!


museum

Posted on 06-12-2017 07:54 | By dumbkof2

how do you go about forcing a referendom on these dont need things


Accounting for sense

Posted on 06-12-2017 07:58 | By backofthequeue

Significant that the one NO vote came from the only Councillor professionally trained in Profit & Loss and how to read a Balance Sheet.


A good balanced decision,

Posted on 06-12-2017 08:16 | By R. Bell

that no-one can argue with. Well done Council. Robin Bell.


Keep it up

Posted on 06-12-2017 09:56 | By Sg1nz

A well made decision. One that the bulk of the community have been seeking. No doubt there will be some $10 Tauranga minority that try to say this doesnt represent the will of the people and the 5th largest city in NZ.


I would say.......

Posted on 06-12-2017 10:03 | By groutby

.....it's a decision somewhat expected, and as long as the $$ figures 'stack up' and there are no funding shortfalls or cost over-runs, then maybe it could become acceptable (in time). My major concern though is as stated, TCC's notorious reputation for both is duly noted. Furthermore, I do hope that the entire site is not hijacked by iwi, and can be a fair, accurate and more importantly truthful account of the history of our region, and along with promised quality artifacts to display/describe and promote, we can only hope it will actually attract locals and tourists alike to become a 'place to visit whilst in our magnificent city.


78%

Posted on 06-12-2017 10:18 | By Told you

How come 78% of rate payers say no to the museum but you know best and say, we are going to have one. Hardly fair to ones that have to pay.why don;t you listen to the people?


When a politician is lying

Posted on 06-12-2017 11:17 | By backofthequeue

Q. How do you tell? A. When their lips are moving! The only transformation I wish to see is the ousting of Councillors who stood for election on a platform of fiscal responsibility only to vote for an excessively expensive non-essential nicety whilst the city is crying out for overdue investment in critical infrastructure. Shameful.


council spend spend

Posted on 06-12-2017 11:40 | By dumbkof2

why is this council so reluctent to have a referendom on these grandiose schemes. are they so afraid that their grandiose white elephants will get thrown out


robust community engagement?

Posted on 06-12-2017 11:42 | By MISS ADVENTURE

have not seen that, what we have seen is a PREDETERMINED robust community engagement! That very much is not the same thing.


@ Ding-a-ling Bell

Posted on 06-12-2017 11:46 | By MISS ADVENTURE

There is no balance in this, the books are completely out of whack, the notions are completely crazy and the $50m odd will end up at more likely $70-80m. Dont forget that the costs to run this massive edifice to stupidity will be measured in mega-millions annually also. . I personally would rather see something useful happen like Welcome Bay project completed.


@ dumbkof2

Posted on 06-12-2017 11:47 | By MISS ADVENTURE

Get 5% signatures fro valid/current ratepayers then Council "must" have a referendum. This is the same issue as WBOP face on the part Maori race based seats that they propose.


desired outcomes for the community?

Posted on 06-12-2017 11:49 | By MISS ADVENTURE

The public are 65% against a museum, that si what the independant polls state. Soem are as high as 80+% against, so where extactly is the community suppport?


@ dbunk

Posted on 06-12-2017 11:55 | By MISS ADVENTURE

Perhaps you should read what you write before posting it, there is already a library, in fact there are five (four to many) and of course they are not a essential COuncil function at all. So your attenpted linkage of electronic devices and libraries is a nonesense. Kids are addicted to electronc devices, building more libraries (they have them at schools, did you know) wont increase useage and paper book reading. The world is changing, Libraries are like dinos stuck in a trench where the bootom is falling out of the market (look up Kodak, late 1990's to get the picture) the trends world wide are that Libraries will be desserted and empty in 10 years or less. So in typical COuncil fashion the plan is to spend tens of millions to build bigger/better and more ... Completely crazy!


Sorry Robin

Posted on 06-12-2017 11:56 | By waiknot

I think you will find plenty of people can and will argue


lights

Posted on 06-12-2017 11:56 | By dumbkof2

instead of wasting multi millions on these white elephants, it would be far better to install some lights on the many parks around tauranga. these parks would then be used by many sports groups and the public. but no must have useless monuments to councilors


A quote from our mayor

Posted on 06-12-2017 12:08 | By waiknot

The cost of infrastructure moving forward and providing for growth is probably going to be horrendous, says Mayor Greg Brownless. So if he believes this how can he support spending on luxuries?


Option 6

Posted on 06-12-2017 12:12 | By Captain Sensible

How about an Option 6; None of the above.


Usual suspects

Posted on 06-12-2017 12:42 | By rastus

It is not surprising to read the comments of those who seem to think that in order for Tauranga to be successful...... - well thats very misleading, because after living here for over 60 years I and many other long term residents have always considered Tauranga to have been and continue to be successful - the majority have said they don't want a museum and I join dumbkof2 in the question of how we force a binding referendum on this matter - Talk about being steamrolled by the minority


@Dbunk

Posted on 06-12-2017 12:55 | By Papamoaner

On the button! There is a huge difference between books and electronic devices that many are slow to appreciate. Most of the anti-museum grizzlers don't actually have any idea what a modern interactive museum is, or looks like, so their arguments are based on a mix of ignorance and misunderstanding. As to the venue, Cliff road is not a bad choice. Well done TCC. The majority of thinkers will thank you for it.


broke!

Posted on 06-12-2017 12:57 | By sangrae

It is very obvious that those councillors who voted yes do not want to be around in 2years time ie next election congratulations to the one councillor who listens, i dare say that R. Bell and dbunk are going to put there hands in there pockets. To dumbkof2 you only need about 2 or 3000 signatures to force council to have a referendom.


Without a Rates hike?

Posted on 06-12-2017 13:48 | By morepork

"It is important that these cultural facilities happen for our community, we have waited long enough." No, what is important is that we do what we can AFFORD. Just because we have a generation of spoilt brats who have never had "No" said to them, doesn't mean that the grown-ups should behave the same way. You can't always have something just because you WANT it. I agree that culture and the Arts are a very important part of our city, but spending on them has to be in the context of what we can afford, not just "keeping up with the Joneses". Fiscally, Tauranga is up to its ears in debt and that is not a situation where you should be looking for projects to spend more big money on. And neither of these institutions will "get kids off their devices", dbunk.


This is amazing!

Posted on 06-12-2017 13:55 | By mariboi

Congratulations City Transformation Committee.This is a small win for now, but there is more work to be done. Convincing the general public that the museum is going to benefit everyone, will be hard work but satisfying.Everything built that makes this city great had naysayers, this is no different. Keep going, you guys are on the right track.


MUSEUM

Posted on 06-12-2017 14:41 | By jeancraven@kinect.co.nz

Congratulations on making the decision. A museum is an asset to our community and future.


We are so lucky to have Papamoaner's wisdom to guide us.

Posted on 06-12-2017 15:06 | By Dazed and Confused

I cant wait for the next TCC election I just love to watch people like Baldock and Co get the message from the voters again. You'll be looking for another Job Larry


@ jean Craven

Posted on 06-12-2017 15:27 | By MISS ADVENTURE

Looks to me that your world must be an upside down one. A museum is a liability i.e. there is o asset only bills and debt. Simple math reveals Assets = nil (cost lost totlaly of tens millions, debt and bills donway tens of millions = net result net debts of $50million and counting). Perhaps you would like to go back to school on that? As for the wonders of a community, it's a handbrake and obstacal. Few will be bothered to go and little benefit then arises. Any cultural stuff will be entirely distorted and corrput as to the true history of NZ or this area. So again there is a negative here not the truth displayed, that being so then why bother propagating a lie?


FEELING LIKE A BIT OF A MUG

Posted on 06-12-2017 15:41 | By fifthwheeler

I live in the Street and I swallowed the line fed to me by council employees that the city centre site was 'Technically Preferred' . Time to fight now! 4000m2 on piles in a park! This issue will not go away.


lets see

Posted on 06-12-2017 15:48 | By dumbkof2

is there anyone out there that can help me organize a referemdom on the museum and library


referendum

Posted on 06-12-2017 18:50 | By sangrae

how do we get in contact with you dumbkof2.


Yes There Is

Posted on 06-12-2017 19:03 | By fifthwheeler

We can get correct advice through MP's office as to requirements and I will do that tomorrow around a valid referendum


JUST CONTACTED SIMON BRIDGES WITH THIS

Posted on 06-12-2017 19:19 | By fifthwheeler

Hello Simon,I would like impartial advice from you as to what constitutes a valid petition to force a referendum on a Museum proposal for Tauranga that ratepayers and indeed residents of Tauranga can vote on. Can you please advise the steps that need to be taken including * how many signatures are required * what constitutes a valid/invalid signature ;And any other pitfalls that we could avoid. I realise there will be legislation around this but would like to be pointed in the right direction by our MP.


@dumbkof2

Posted on 06-12-2017 19:55 | By backofthequeue

Contact the local MP Simon Bridges. As much as he would like to see a Tauranga museum he too is of the mind that the current proposal is excessive in all respects. There is much water yet to flow under the bridge before this monument to extravagance is a fait accompli.


commuter

Posted on 06-12-2017 20:56 | By sh2 commuter

The museum will replace many parking spaces on Cliff Road. This seems to be what the council want to achieve. Make it impossible to park. No wonder the CBD is being deserted for the Lakes, Bayfair, Bethlehem, etc.


@ dumbkof2

Posted on 06-12-2017 22:44 | By MISS ADVENTURE

Get the referenda policy from TCC, have a read, its interesting. When you apply TCC will simply decline to do it ... that democracy for you?


REFERENDUM?

Posted on 07-12-2017 10:19 | By MISS ADVENTURE

That should have a few questions: - New wasteful admin building - spend $100m , Y/N? Build a Museum - spend $40m , Y/N?, Build a replacement Library etc - spend $35m , Y/N? Build a replacement Baycourt - spend $70m, Y/N? Redevlop The Domain facilities - spend $50m, Y/N? add significiant costs to Baypark etc - spend $50m, Y/N? Waste $23m on cycle ways and so on in the CBD, Y/N? The answers to all of this are simple and clear other than a few blood sucker types the answers will be "NO" to all.


@ fifthwheeler

Posted on 07-12-2017 11:31 | By MISS ADVENTURE

Simon is all in favour of a Museum and so on. So you cant get an independant view there, certainly not balanced and objective by any means.


It's a shame...

Posted on 07-12-2017 14:07 | By morepork

... that arguments like this get pushed to extremes by both sides. A binding referendum is the ONLY fair way to decide it. People who are not happy about it (like me) are NOT necessarily "anti-museum/library". I am certainly opposed to living in a bankrupt City where due consideration is not being given to what we can afford, for the sake of Political expediency, and the only way out is to increase the Rates... We SHOULD DEFINITELY have libraries available, even if some perceive them as becoming obsolete (they're not, BTW...). A museum is not quite so clear-cut, but is a "nice-to-have". However, I believe that ANY steps in either of these directions must be considered in the context of the state of TCC finances, and not in what is perceived to be "popular". The current schemes are grandiose and unnecessary. They should be VOTED on.


Rose Gardens?

Posted on 08-12-2017 08:42 | By Maryfaith

Why does this 'white elephant' of a museum have to be built over the rose gardens? Why not down the other end and leave the rose gardens alone? The only decent garden and green space we have left in this concrete jungle that we are living in.!!


Morepork

Posted on 08-12-2017 10:11 | By waiknot

I cant agree more, once basic infrastructure and finances are resolved Id be a big supporter of a museum. Id even support activities for the youth and not so young who want to have fun maybe at midnight on New Years Eve.


Morepork, keeping up with the Joneses,

Posted on 08-12-2017 10:32 | By R. Bell

is absolutely what its about, along with many other considerations. The most rapidly growing industry is tourism. Tauranga has little to offer. Cities all over N.Z. are modernizing, Like it or not Tauranga has to follow or really die as an attraction. Like it or not, visitors look for novelty, points of interest, places to relax and enjoy a snack or meal. The citizens of Tauranga in general benefit financially and can enjoy real pride in our rapidly growing city. Doing nothing is no longer an option. Sound investment and good management IS. Hope that's not too extreme for you. Robin Bell.


COUNCILS RESPONSE TO REFERENDUM INQUIRIES

Posted on 08-12-2017 11:40 | By fifthwheeler

Looks like it would need to be a court battle. I have checked this with our electoral officer and can advise as follows. There are only three circumstance in which voters can require Council to carry out a referendum: to initiate or approve a reorganisation proposal; to establish whether a council should have Maori wards or constituencies; and to decide which voting system should be used. The Council can decide under s 9 of the Local Electoral Act 2001 to have a referendum on any other matters, but this is a Council decision as opposed to being a referendum required by voters via a petition. Such a referendum would not binding on the Council unless it resolves it will be or some legislation provides otherwise.


R Bell

Posted on 08-12-2017 15:04 | By waiknot

One of the reasons Tauranga has nothing to offer is attitude and closing down attractions we had. As an example Tauranga will be the first city in the world to bring in the New Year at 9.30 pm. Rock climbing on the Mount getting the run around. The only attractions deemed suitable in this town revolve around getting home to bed in time for a Horlick drink.


You are almost there waiknot,

Posted on 10-12-2017 10:05 | By R. Bell

It is definitely progressives V conservatives. People and more people make attractions work or not. Do you remember the Rock pool complex at the Mount. Closed down because it couldn't survive the long winter period. Why? because people need more than one attraction. Variety and novelty is what it's all about Waiknot, not up the alley of most conservatives, I suggest. Robin Bell.


@ waiknot

Posted on 11-12-2017 10:57 | By MISS ADVENTURE

Exactly right, there are many good quality, low cost, commercial ideas out there that have been shut down. A good example is a Gondal on the Mount, what a great site for it to be, what a view ... everything. By the time the COuncil got involved and then a coupel of tribes all wanting to control it but pay nothing and do nothing the whole thing became a disaster and so failed to happen. That surely would be a good attraction, would generate jobs, business oppurtunities (real ones not Council subsidy type ones).


The

Posted on 12-12-2017 10:04 | By R. Bell

Keep your grubby fingers off it. Council leads the way, others follow. Robin Bell.


Council leads the way?

Posted on 15-12-2017 17:39 | By MISS ADVENTURE

Like the Pied Piper ah Robin? can you tell me again which rat you are in the pack?


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