Mayor defends his call for change of tack on theatre

North Shore Mayor George Wood says he is not "acting with malice" in suggesting his council scrub plans for public consultation over whether to buy Devonport's heritage Victoria Theatre for $1.55 million.

Mr Wood came under fire from councillors after calling on them to revoke a decision made last April to seek ratepayers' views on the proposal.

Deputy Mayor Dianne Hale said she was disappointed over the mayoral move and fellow Devonport resident councillors Andrew Eaglen and Chris Darby said it was too late.

But Mr Wood said at the present rate of progress the consultation result and final council decision would not be known until March when drafting next year's city budget was nearly complete. The project might miss out on the budget for the second year running.

Mr Wood said the council should leave the consultation to the annual round of public debate over the new city budget. "This will save $80,000 of ratepayers' money."

Ratepayers would also then have an idea of the city's total spending needs.

Victoria Theatre Trust fears the 1912 building, which was given an art deco makeover in 1929, will become an apartment block unless the council buys it.