Tauranga City Council today approved a recommendation to invest in a museum and a new central library. The investment proposal will now go in the Draft Long Term Plan 2018-2028 (LTP) which will go out for public consultation in March 2018.
The City Transformation Committee deliberated on a number of options for these facilities, and recommended to Council the preferred option of a museum on Cliff Road at a total cost of $55.65m, with $20.65m Council contribution. They also recommended a new central library on Willow Street at a total cost of $30m with $25m Council contribution.
Council approved these recommendations today.
The options will be included in the draft Long Term Plan for the public to consider and provide feedback during the submission process from 16 March to 16 April 2018.
Tauranga Mayor Greg Brownless said he is pleased to see these facilities up for discussion in the Long Term Plan.
“This is a rare opportunity to create two unique community spaces that will make a huge contribution to Tauranga,” he said.
“Since the public consultation in 2015 on Civic Space Options, we have known there is a real groundswell of support for new, engaging and exciting cultural facilities. Today we have made a major step forward for this to happen.
“We look forward to hearing from the community during the submission process, and understanding community perspectives as we consider these important investment decisions,” said Mayor Brownless.
The museum and central library proposals are a result of the Civic Space Options project that kicked off in 2015: A ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ to revitalise Tauranga city. 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.
The museum and library options that Council considered for inclusion in the Long Term Plan were:
Option 1: Remediate existing library (not a viable option)
Option 2: Stand-alone library on Willow Street
Option 3: Integrated new library and museum (a hub model) on Willow Street
Option 4: Stand-alone museum on Cliff Road
Option 5: Stand-alone museum on Willow Street
All options recognise the cultural significance of Cliff Road.
After today’s decision, the Council’s preferred options are: Option 2: Stand-alone library on Willow Street and Option 4: Stand-alone museum on Cliff Road