Plans to re-instate a museum in Katikati have moved forward after Western Bay of Plenty District Council hinted at backing a $210,000 fit-out over the coming year.
As part of its Long Term Plan consultation, the council is hitting the road to talk to ratepayers in a series of community road shows - including the Katikati Museum.
The former Katikati Heritage Museum. Photo: File.
Last May the Katikati Heritage Museum closed its doors due to financial difficulties, with council taking ownership of the collection to ensure it is preserved.
Since then council and the community have been working to move the collection to a new home, namely the former Katikati Fire Station.
Council's Long Term Plan consultation documents outline how it has a role in protecting the district's cultural heritage, including acting as an advocate, facilitator and partner to assist the community to protect important cultural artefacts.
Council has considered whether it should provide a museum for the district. And although its current financial priorities are to reduce debt and focus on other services, if the community wants to establish a museum in their area, it will consider supporting them.
'While we do not see providing museums as our core business, we do need to think about our responsibility for the museum collection,” says a council spokesperson.
'Members of the Katikati community have told us they would like to operate a museum and we are considering how we can best support this.”
It intends to provide an initial grant of $210,000 to fit out the former Katikati Fire Station to become suitable to house the collection.
Half of the operating costs (up to $60,000) would also be allocated with the remaining half to be matched by the organisation running the museum.
Though this is the preferred option, council has two other levels of support for Katikati Museum - no additional support, or temporary support.
By providing no additional support, council would retain ownership of the collection and responsibility for storage at minimal cost.
Temporary support would mean the former Katikati Fire Station would be refitted to become suitable to house the collection on an interim basis.
Council expects a community organisation, such as a museum trust, would take over the costs of running the museum within three years.
Projected costs, if agreed, would be $150,000 to fit out the fire station, a $100,000 operating grant in 2015/16, plus a $150,000 grant to cover operating costs in 2016/17 and 2017/18.
A small operating grant of up to $10,000 per year may be provided after this.
It would cost $150,000 to fit out the fire station and a $60,000 operating grant to cover operating costs. Council would also provide ongoing funding of up to $60,000 per year from 2016/17 to 2024/25.
'We're leaning towards option three [ongoing support] as this would provide some surety that the collection will be on display to our residents over the next few years,” explain council.
In terms of funding the options, another three options are tabled - a district-wide charge, a Katikati Community Board area charge, and 50 per cent funding split from Katikati rates and a district-wide charge.
Council's preferred option is the 50 per cent split as the 'fairest” way of funding the museum.
'This recognises that the whole district benefits from having a place to display important heritage artefacts,” they add, 'but also that the Katikati community receives the greatest benefit.
The final LTP will be adopted on Thursday, June 25, with the proposed work programme coming into effect on Wednesday, July 1 this year.
Dates for the community road shows are:
- Tuesday 7 April, 1pm – 4pm, Paengaroa Hall
- Wednesday 8 April, 5pm – 8pm, Omokoroa Settlers Hall
- Thursday 9 April, 7pm – 9pm, Te Puna Hall
- Saturday 11 April, 9am – 12 noon, ‘Moggies Market' Katikati
- Monday 13 April, 9am – 12 noon, Te Puke Post Office
- Tuesday 14 April, 9am – 12 noon, Pukehina Community Hall
- Tuesday 14 April, 3pm – 6pm, Maketu Fire Station
- Wednesday 15 April, 9am – 12 noon, Pongakawa Hall
- Thursday 16 April, 9am – 12 noon, Oropi Hall
- Saturday 18 April, 9am – 12 noon, Waihi Beach Church Hall
7 comments
No No No
Posted on 01-04-2015 09:50 | By Annalist
What part of the ratepayers don't want to pay for this does the Council not understand? Does the council want to open the floodgates for well meaning people to set up other museums then flick the ownership and costs onto council (ratepayers)? The council roadshow should be focussed on reducing costs. I believe WBOPDC has big debts and one of those highly paid CEOs. Time for savings not increasing expenditure.
Yes yes yes
Posted on 01-04-2015 12:52 | By Blasta
Outlfmost wish lists and nice to have projects I see, this one has some real tangible benefits. Firstly, it's situated inn convenient place. Next, it has an available venue. Then you have the flow on effect of the town, cafes, park(s), murals etc right there and to cap it off, visitors will find it much easier to visit due to being in town where they may have stopped anyway, instead of zooming past at 100 kms/hr. Fantastic idea!
Call to arms
Posted on 01-04-2015 16:07 | By Techniker
Why all the hoohaa about reducing costs? A council should reflect the economic health of the residents. The bay is among the fastest growing regions in NZ, unfettered by a rebuild or a property bubble; Add to that a growing port and a planned tertiary precinct as well as current news reports suggesting a kiwi industry nearly recovered from the PSA. Now is the time to use the prosperity to invest in long term local projects to ensure that our region is an attractive, fun place to visit and live.
@Techniker
Posted on 01-04-2015 18:32 | By Annalist
So what about the large debt council as, or doesn't that worry you? Perhaps they can print money? How about all those who want a museum putting in a few dollars each and hey presto, there's a museum at no cost to ratepayers. Yeah right.
What planet are our council on!! (Part 1)
Posted on 01-04-2015 18:55 | By P Double
According to information provided by the council, Council has already been forced to budget $150,000 to cover the costs of photography, cataloguing and packing the collection plus meeting the cost of the mortgage. Further they are up for a minimum of $650,000 to upgrade the old fire station. Now they are proposing an initial grant of $210,000 to fit out the old fire station as a museum and then to contribute on an ongoing basis towards the costs of running the museum. I would suggest that the majority of Katkati residents do not want this to proceed. Following submissions last year (prior to the museum closing) museum supporters will often quote the figures of 200 submissions in favour of keeping the museum open as opposed to 50 who did not.
What planet are our council on!!!! (Part 2)
Posted on 01-04-2015 19:03 | By P Double
A more accurate assessment of the support or otherwise would be the number of people who were actually signatories to the submissions. For example I know of one submission that was not in favour of subsidies that included a petition with over 300 signatures complete with contact details of the signatories. Council advises that debt cannot be paid off as quickly as was planned due to the decrease in development and it is proposed to meet the shortfall of around $2.5 million by uniform annual charges per ratepayer plus rates.
What planet are our council on!!!! (Part 3)
Posted on 01-04-2015 19:05 | By P Double
Nobody can deny the enthusiasm and hard work put in by the museum volunteers but in the final analysis the museum has to be completely viable in its own right or it will continue to be a burden on the ratepayers. In these times the ratepayers do not need/want the added burdens whether these are as additional rates or as a targeted rate. Mayor Paterson was quoted as saying 'there is no mandate in the council's 10-year plan for further spending on the museum”. I am not always in agreement with Mayor Paterson but on this subject I am in complete agreement. Better to cancel vanity projects such as this in my opinion.
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