Concept designs for the theatre with 1300 seats. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
Concept designs for the theatre with 1300 seats. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
Rotorua Lakes Council has opposed a proposal that would see locals in the wider district contributing to the cost of a theatre in Hamilton.
The council shares that view with the Rotorua Rural Community Board.
As part of its Long Term Plan (LTP) consultation, the Waikato Regional Council asked if a rate should be collected for a new $73 million regional theatre.
The smaller elected councils in the region would be asked to chip in for the cost of building it with $30m expected to come from local government.
There are 1300 ratepayers in the Rotorua District that come under the Waikato Regional Council area - from Reporoa, Ngakuru, Waikite Valley and upper Atiamuri.
Consultation on the plan ran from March 16 until April 16 and was published online this week. More than 280 submissions were made on the LTP with roughly half mentioning the proposed theatre.
The regional council put forward five options; one to not provide any funding and four others in support of the theatre.
The regional council's preferred option is to use a differential rate based on who will benefit from the facility and where they are located.
Primary beneficiaries would pay $10.26 per property per year. Secondary beneficiaries would pay 93c per property per year with an extra $300,000 per year collected for ongoing maintenance.
Other options are to split the $5 million contribution from the regions evenly across all ratepayers outside Hamilton with options to contribute to ongoing maintenance or not, and to use the differential rate but not include maintenance costs.
Both Rotorua Lakes Council and the Rotorua Rural Community Board submitted on the Long Term Plan.
Rural community board chairwoman Shirley Trumper. PHOTO/FILE
In its submission, the community board only supported the option to not provide any funding for the theatre.
"The board do not see any correlation or benefit between a theatre in Hamilton and of those residents within the Rotorua region," the submission said.
"Rotorua has our own Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre, which is up for critical seismic strengthening and while that work is being carried out there will also be an opportunity to carry out enhancements to provide a fit for purpose facility."
The Rotorua Lakes Council "strongly supports" the view of the board.
"[It] does not see any correlation or benefit for a theatre being constructed in Hamilton for those residents within the Rotorua District," the council's submission said.
Of the roughly 137 people who commented on the proposal, 86 preferred option one: to not provide any funding for a theatre.
The submissions opposing its funding came from around the region including Taupo, and Matamata-Piako.
"I do not think it's fair and equitable for all ratepayers to contribute to the regional theatre," one submission read.
"What a white elephant that would be ... it would take something very spectacular to get me to travel from Taupo to Hamilton to attend the theatre."
Some submitters suggested revitalising the Claudelands theatre.
However, Creative Waikato was happy to support the theatre.
"Since the closure of Founders Theatre in 2016, the Waikato Region has been without a theatre that can accommodate performing arts activity," the submission read.
Another submitter in support of the theatre said it was a long time coming.
"This location is exceptional in bringing many more people into the central Hamilton area which will benefit so many ... The small amount added to everyone's rates is minimal to what a new theatre will bring."
The process: - March 16 to April 16: Consultation - May 1: Submissions made public - May 7 to 11 Feedback presented to councillors - May 28 to June 1: Councillors deliberate - June 26: 2018-2028 Long Term Plan adopted.
