Rotorua Museum may not reopen for three years

Construction on Rotorua's museum may take up to two years. PHOTO/ BEN FRASER

It has been revealed Rotorua's iconic museum may not reopen for another three years, as questions are asked over the accuracy of cost estimations released to the public.

Detailed plans and costings for the museum upgrade may not be available until the end of the year, a Rotorua Lakes Council committee was told today.

The museum has been closed since November 2016 after damage was discovered following the Kaikoura earthquake.

The council was proposing to fully restore the museum building at a cost of about $32 million, according to its Long Term Plan (LTP) consultation document.

That would include seismic strengthening, repairing long-term maintenance issues, upgrading exhibitions and facilities and replacing the roof with a lighter option.

At today'sstrategy, policy and finance committee meeting, arts and culture director Stewart Brown said detailed plans and costings would be available by the end of the year, with construction set to start around mid-2019.

Construction could take about two years, he said.

Councillor Trevor Maxwell asked if the $32m outlined in the LTP was a good estimate, given that detailed costings were not yet available.

Brown said he thought the actual cost would be "close" to the estimate.

"I'm not in a position to be that accurate at the moment."

He said the project was "quite complex" because of factors such as accessing steel in the structure to strengthen the building, and maintaining the heritage aspect of the building.

Councillor Rob Kent asked if it would be easier to maintain the facade of the building and build a new structure behind it.

Brown said that was considered, but the building had been part of Rotorua's history for a long time and it would be a shame to lose that.

The council was looking to attract up to half of the project's funding from external sources, according to the LTP.

"Rotorua's history needs to continue to be told through the stories portrayed in the exhibitions and our culture needs to be preserved and relived through the experience offered at the museum," the report states.

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