Regional Theatre faces opposition from region

What the interior spaces of the new Waikato Regional Theatre building could look like and how they would connect to the river. Image / Jasmax

The proposed new Waikato Regional Theatre is causing a stir among the smaller elected councils in the region, who are being asked to chip in for the cost of building it.

The proposal put forward by Momentum Waikato to construct a new regional theatre in Hamilton was added to the city's 10 Year Plan in December.

The overall cost of the building is currently $72 million with $30m expected to come from local government.

Hamilton will contribute $25m over three years and Waipa, Waikato and Matamata-Piako district councils are asked to stump up $4.5m in total, as those councils would derive more benefit than others further from the city. As such, the other councils will collectively be asked to contribute the remaining $500,000.

A further $30m is expected to come from generous families and organisations in the Waikato region, and $13m from central government.
Momentum Waikato has asked Waikato Regional Council ratepayers (excluding Hamilton City) to contribute $5m towards the theatre.

Rating would start in 2019/20. They have also asked the regional council to contribute a further $300,000 every year (starting 2020/21, the proposed opening year of the theatre) towards an asset maintenance reserve fund.

"The clarity around its purpose and use is something we want to work with this council on so by the time we debate our LTP we have real clarity around the model," chief finance officer for the Waikato Regional Council, Mike Garrett, said at an elected members' briefing last Thursday with Hamilton City Council and representatives of other local bodies.

In the Waikato Regional Council's 10-Year Plan they have put forward two options to help fund the theatre.

One is to use a differential rate based on an assessment of those that would receive benefit from the facility and where they are located, and also those people who live in close proximity to the proposed facility. This is the regional council's preferred option.

Option two is to split the five million dollar contribution from the region evenly across all regional ratepayers outside Hamilton City. In other words, ratepayers who are close to the facility and those who are further away would pay the same.

The regional council's preferred option has been favoured by a number of council's in the region including Hamilton, but South Waikato has stated they are not supportive of funding a regional theatre. Waikato District Council would like the old Franklin District to not be considered a main beneficiary.

The regional council has said they will not commit to funding until they are satisfied with a number of issues including that the site is structurally sound, there is adequate parking for people attending performances, there is good access for production related vehicle and that Momentum Waikato has committed funding in place to complete the project.