News
- Public consultation gathered 280 submissions on Southland's new museum budget shortfall.
- Four budget options were proposed, including design changes and delayed construction.
- Council hearings and deliberations on budget plans are scheduled for October.
Public consultation on the final budget for Southland’s new museum has concluded, with Invercargill City Council receiving 280 submissions. The consultation process focused on addressing a budget shortfall in the Council's project to build a new regional museum, expected to open in late 2026.
Related: New Museum of Southland Faces Potential $19.5 Million Budget Increase
Residents were invited to review four options, each offering different financial solutions. Councillor Grant Dermody, who leads the project, expressed how important the museum is for the community. "We know how important the Museum of Southland is to our community," Dermody said. He emphasised the need for thoughtful financial decisions, given the museum’s role in telling the region’s past, present, and future stories.
Council’s preferred option is to delay the construction of a 71-space car park and remove the Green Star Accreditation. This would bring the total budget to $84.7 million. Other options included moving forward with the full design scope, cutting some design features, or reducing digital and static experiences.
The project has a current budget of $74.1 million. Of this, $9.4 million has already been spent on the Southern Regional Collections Facility, $734,000 on Tuatara Island, and $63.9 million is allocated to the museum.
Council Manager Rhiannon Suter shared that hearings will be held on October 8, followed by deliberations on October 22. Twelve people have requested to speak during these sessions.
The $74.1 million project is backed by $57.1 million from the Council, with $10.4 million secured from external sources. A further $6.6 million still needs to be raised, which the Council will underwrite if necessary.