A brand new museum with a separate storage facility built at Tisbury, and a new home for the tuatara is back on track again.
Invercargill City councillors unanimously agreed to support the $39.4 million smaller museum and art gallery, as was agreed on through the annual plan process.
The only difference this time is that the project has been moved forward to December 2025.
The construction phase of the Tisbury storage facility project had been paused to allow time for the new incoming council to assess the planned programme for the museum rebuild.
Councillors agreed today that the planned Tisbury storage facility would continue. Construction work at Tisbury is due to start in December for completion in December 2023, and will be followed by the relocation of the Southland Museum and Art Gallery collection from the current building to the storage facility.
Demolition of the current museum buildings in Queens Park is set to begin as soon as the collection is moved, and the new base build is expected to be completed in December 2025.
The official opening of the museum is expected to be later in 2026 following final fit-out of the facility and installation of the collection.
Project lead Nigel Skelt said today at the meeting this was not going to be a “rainy day” museum, but an every day museum, that was innovative, creative and multi-purpose.
Acknowledging the work that has been done in previous years by many people, he said “we’re going to create a bit of a legacy.”
“I really look forward to the challenge that we have together, and it’s going to be a challenge, no question, but we’ll tackle it head on.”
Cr Skelt said it was important that the council was open and transparent with the public every step of the development, including holding open days.
“Let’s get this damn thing built.”
Council Group Manager Infrastructure Erin Moogan said Project 1225 had a tight but achievable timeframe.
“Councillors and staff recognise that this is going to be a high pressure programme and a significant challenge but it is one the team are keen to take on.”
