Theatre and centre to cost $12m

Phil Halse

Whangarei looks set for a new $12 million theatre and conference centre with the hope of attracting international conventions and the best entertainment from around the country.

The plans were outlined in the consultation document for the Long Term Plan 2015-25, which is expected to be adopted by the Whangarei District Council tomorrow.

The plan proposed a rates rise of 9 per cent in the first year but has not been set in stone and is open to public consultation.

While the location of the proposed theatre and conference centre is yet to be confirmed, it could happen sooner rather than later. Chairman of the council's 20/20 Inner City Revitalisation Committee Phil Halse said the centre was planned to be finished in 2022 but that could change.

"The feeling is that we should be bringing that forward now and we would like the public to give us feedback on that," Mr Halse said. Regardless, about two years of planning would be required before any construction could begin.

The theatre would seat about 650-700 people, double the capacity of the current largest theatre - Capitaine Bougainville Theatre at Forum North. The convention centre would seat about 500 people.

"We used to be able to get New Zealand's best talent and we haven't been able to recently ... because we don't have the facilities," Mr Halse said.

"We can't attract the musicals and the roadshows so we're missing out on a lot of opportunities."

Where the proposed theatre and conference centre was eventually located could depend on council's consolidation of its current three premises - Forum North, Walton Plaza and the Civic Arcade.

The rationale behind consolidating the council premises had been providing better service to customers and improving productivity and efficiency by eliminating a duplication of functions.

It would also reduce rent as the council did not own Walton Plaza and the Civic Arcade.

The Long Term Plan (LTP) outlined three options for this, though the option being planned for was a $10 million expansion of the current administration facility at Forum North scheduled to be completed around 2018.

Another option, which Mr Halse said he favoured, was leasing space in new private development in the CBD. It would free up Forum North to house the new theatre and conference centre, he said.