Resource consent has been granted for the restoration of Rotorua Museum and work is expected to begin in July.
The consent to restore and strengthen Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa was granted on Friday and Rotorua Lakes Council's arts and culture manager Stewart Brown said this would allow a range of other projects to begin.
"Resource consent is a prerequisite for some of the potential funding opportunities that we have identified, so this approval means we can now move forward with securing further funding for this project."
The application for consent was lodged in December and incorporated heritage impact statements and concept designs for all aspects of the project, including architectural drawings, electrical, mechanical and fire design plans.
An artists impression of the link to Rotorua Museum basement. Image / DPA Architects
The project was well into the developed design phase with architects, engineers and Heritage New Zealand continuing to work through design elements.
Project managers WSP Opus were procuring contractors.
Last week the Rotorua Daily Post revealed insurance claims on the museum were still active and yet to be finalised more than two years after its closure.
The insurance cover includes a $56 million material damage policy, $40m fine arts policy and business interruption policy for a maximum of up to two years loss of revenue.
The latest costings for the rebuilding of the earthquake-damaged iconic building is $40m to $47m.
The proposed 3D floor plan of the Rotorua Museum basement. Image / DPA Architects
The Rotorua Lakes Council had already committed $15m through its Long-term Plan and it was now looking to the Government and other funding agencies to help with the remaining $20m to $25m.
Last week mayor Steve Chadwick was also calling for Crown funding for the museum's restoration.
At the time she said the council was ready to start work in July but needed the funding.
What has happened since Rotorua Museum closed?
November 18, 2016: Rotorua Museum closed following a rapid seismic risk assessment which determined the building was earthquake-prone December 2016 – August 2017: Research, destructive testing and analysis to determine in detail the condition of the building and the ground on which it sits August 2017 – December 2017: Four structural strengthening options were evaluated, and the preferred option selected December 2017: Detailed seismic assessment was completed which rated the building at 19 per cent of new building standard. Buildings below 34 per cent are considered earthquake-prone, while those under 67 per cent are considered earthquake risk December 2017 – February 2018: Engineers GDC developed the structural concept design for strengthening the building, for review by Rotorua Lakes Council and Heritage New Zealand February 2018 – December 2018: Structural design developed into detailed drawings and specifications with estimated costs June 2018: Rotorua Museum Centennial Trust gives the council $200,000 to start seismic studies, council signs off on long-term plan approving $15 million towards strengthening the Rotorua Museum building with the balance required to be sourced externally. September 2018: DPA Architects appointed to restore the museum, to be designed by local firm Carling Architects October 2018: Remaining 25 taonga in the museum removed into specialised storage facilities November 2018: Opus appointed as project managers December 2018: Rotorua Trust commits $10m to restoring the museum but the latest costings for the rebuilding of the museum rise to $40m to $47m.
Next steps for the Rotorua Museum project Now: Developed design phase under way Jan – July 2019: Detailed design phase July 2019: Contractor procurement and construction starts July 2019 – 2020: Construction 2020 - 2021: Exhibition development and installation prior to museum re-opening Category One heritage building built in 1908
