Open airspace at Motat

BY JANIE SMITH

A multi-million dollar development will see all of Motat’s aviation collection under one roof for the first time.

Work is already under way on a new 3767 square metre aviation display hall at Motat’s second site, Motat
Two. It will connect with the current hall to provide a much bigger space for
the museum’s plane collection.

Motat director Jeremy Hubbard says the hall’s construction is estimated to cost about $15 million, which according to the museum’s draft annual plan will be raised through its annual levy of Auckland councils and fundraising with the potential to borrow if needed.

It will also mean Motat’s Sunderland, which has been sitting outside for 30 years, will finally be restored and protected from the elements.

Mr Hubbard says it’s a "travesty" the plane has had to sit outside for so long.

"We believe it’s time it was inside and taken care of."

The museum’s Solent flying boat will also be able to come out of the building and be moved around in the bigger space.

In the current display hall, the giant aircraft’s tail goes into the ceiling and the wing tips nearly touch the walls.

"We need to be able to move the planes so we can change the exhibition," says Mr Hubbard.

"Motat’s aviation collection is known as one of the best in the southern hemisphere. The Solent is the last of its type in the world and the Lancaster bomber is one of only a handful."

The development already has resource and building consent and the first phase, involving relocating the historic World War Two blister hangar, has been completed.

The foundations are being laid for the new hall, with large piles being driven into the ground last month.

Motat Two is built on top of an old landfill, which Mr Hubbard says creates a range of different building requirements to deal with the ground settling and the gas from decomposing rubbish.

Moving the blister hangar has allowed the museum to fit it out with a proper gas and fire protection system, he says.

The development has been given a helping hand by the Auckland City Council’s city development committee, which voted to waive 75 percent of Motat’s development contribution fee, saving the museum about $96,000.

Committee chairman Aaron Bhatnagar says Motat is a worthy cause and came to the council with a good business plan indicating how a reduction in fees would help with the development.

"Motat is a fine institution and our first instinct is to make sure we support these grand old dames of Auckland as best we can."

The development is expected to be finished in time for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Things are looking up for the museum, which was started in 1964 by volunteers and has been technically bankrupt twice in its history, with volunteer power keeping it open.

Mr Hubbard says when he took over as director in 2002, the museum was rundown.

"It’s come a long way since then because of the support of the councils, staff and volunteers."

Visitor numbers are also rising – 95,000 people visited in 2001 compared to 245,000 people last year.

- © Fairfax NZ News