Media releasesVictoria Theatre tender process re-opens
May 13, 2008
The North Shore City Council will be re-opening the tender process for the operation of Devonport’s Victoria Theatre after negotiations with Lighthouse Cinema (Petone) Ltd, failed.
Negotiations between North Shore City Council and Lighthouse Cinema ceased when Lighthouse Cinema pulled out citing the restrictions on the building due to its registration by the Historic Places Trust as a category one heritage building.
North Shore City Community Liaison Manager Lisa Tocker said those involved are disappointed at the result of the negotiations.
“Negotiations with Lighthouse Cinema have been underway since 2007, but unfortunately due to some of the restrictions around the heritage status of the building they will go no further,” says Ms Tocker.
Lighthouse Cinema (Petone) Ltd won a council tender as a potential lease holder in December 2006 after it proposed to develop Victoria Theatre into a modern art-house cinema complex.
The category one heritage status, which is the highest level of heritage protection offered to a building, was placed on the building in October 2007 after negotiations with Lighthouse Cinema had started.
The significance of the Category One status created greater constraints on the original tender.
The heritage status meant that the structural elements of the building had to be re-assessed against Lighthouse Cinema’s proposal. For instance fixtures and fittings such as bathroom tiles, lead lights etc had to be considered individually.
Strategy and Finance Committee chair Councillor Grant Gillon says the council’s main aim in the negotiations is to reach a good outcome for North Shore City and in particular, the Devonport community.
“We want to ensure we have the right lease holder in place as quickly as possible so that the community can start benefiting from the facility,” said Councillor Gillon.
As the building requires significant funds to meet its warrant of fitness requirements it remains unavailable for public use until a new operator is determined.
“We understand the frustrations surrounding the building not being available for public use, particularly as it has been closed on and off by other owners since 1980. Typically negotiations involving heritage buildings take significant time and careful consideration and resource to reach a good result,” says Ms Tocker.
Background information:
The North Shore City Council decided to buy Victoria Theatre in March, 2006 at a cost of $1.55million.
A tender process was initiated to decide who would take over the operation of the building for commercial or community use which resulted in council entering into negotiations with Lighthouse Cinema (Petone) Ltd.
Victoria Theatre was built in 1912. There was a major alteration in 1929 that gave the building its current distinctive appearance. In the North Shore City District Plan, the theatre is scheduled for protection.
It has also been granted Category One heritage status by the Historic Places Trust.
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