'Watch that space': Councillors to be updated on museum
As part of the wider museum development, the Invercargill council has completed both its Tisbury storage facility and new Tuatara home at Queens Park on time and within budget.
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Invercargill City Council CEO Michael Day acknowledges there is economic pressures in the construction market, although he hasn’t yet delved publicly into what that could mean for its museum build budget.
Invercargill city councillors will be provided an update on the museum project at a workshop meeting on Tuesday, which is likely to include how it is tracking in relation to its budget.
As part of the wider museum development, the council has completed both its Tisbury storage facility and new Tuatara home at Queens Park on time and within budget.
Speaking at a Southland Business Chamber event last week, Day was asked if the new museum was also tracking on time and on budget.
From a time frame point of view, Day confirmed it was progressing well.
While the development has been labelled Project 1225, in relation to a planned December 2025 completion, Day wanted to make sure the public was aware it was the building that would be completed next year.
The target is to have the new museum open to the public in 2026 after the fitout is completed.
In terms of the question of it being on budget, Day said: “I’m not touching on the dollars just yet, watch that space.”
The council has just recently started to reach out to funders - including the likes of the ILT - about the actual experience inside the museum when it is open.
“It’s going to be exciting and hopefully we can fulfill that real desire for it to be a Southland story that not only sells to Southland but sells to the New Zealand market but also attracts international visitors and gives them a taste of the flavour of Southland.”
Day said they hoped to be able to put those experience plans to the public sometime next month.
In June 2022 the council voted to proceed with the overall project at a total cost of $65.5m which included a planned $11m in external funding.
In August 2023 it was decided to seek a further $6m in external funding to align with its concept design for the museum.
Although at the time it was pointed out that if that extra $6m in external funding could not be found the estimated annual additional rates impact would be approximately 0.082% per annum to fund and repay each $1m of added debt required.
The Invercargill council has worked hard to keep its rate rise as low as possible for the 2024-2025 rating period.
At a 9.8% rate rise, it is one of the lowest in the country. Its Gore counterparts have locked in a 21% rate rise which is one the highest.
Demolition on the old pyramid building on the fringe of Queens Park started in April.
Architects Fjcstudio, from Australia, and Auckland firms Evatt Martin Architects and design Tribe were selected to design the new museum building.