Tauranga City Council has voted seven to three in favour of holding a citywide referendum on its plan to build a $55.7m museum at Cliff Rd.
The postal referendum asking voters if they support the plan will be piggy-backed on to the citywide byelection being held in April to fill the at-large council seat left vacant by Gail McIntosh's death in January.
Councillors Larry Baldock, Terry Molloy and Max Mason opposed the referendum, which had been proposed by Deputy Mayor Kelvin Clout.
Clout has said it would give the community a say on a controversial issue and help the council make a confident decision.
Council electoral officer Warwick Lampp estimated the referendum would cost $45,000.
