Drive to raise quick $3m for new theatre

A Blenheim businessman with the job of leading the fundraising effort for the new $17 million Civic Theatre says he is confident $3m can be raised from the community by December.

Ross Anderson was chosen by the Marlborough Civic Theatre Trust yesterday to lead the drive for community funding for the project.

The new theatre already has the backing of the Marlborough District Council, which agreed a year ago to funnel $5m from reserves into the project, on the condition that the trust achieve final project costs within budget, sell the existing civic theatre site, and meet community and government fundraising targets.

A proposed funding package previously announced by the trust has shown it hopes to raise $3m from the community for the new theatre.

Mr Anderson, 55, said he believed that target could be reached by November 30.

"That's my own goal ... I've always been an optimist."

Mr Anderson has been involved in several community fundraising projects over the past 20 years, including leading fundraising for the Hospital Equipment Trust in 1989, when more than $1.5m was raised for a new ultrasound scanner, MRI scanner and CT scanner for Wairau Hospital.

He was also central to winning community financial support for Stadium 2000 and, more recently, for the Blenheim Rowing Club and the Giesen Sports and Events Centre in Renwick.

Mr Anderson said he was "not a thespian", but believed the theatre was important for the whole community.

"Given the difficulties associated with renovating our existing theatre and the inherent costs that would be involved, I believe the option to build a new, purpose-built theatre is the only available one."

Mr Anderson said he was aware that some in the community were against a new theatre, but after taking part in one of the trust's theatre publicity tours, he realised the project had to go ahead. The trust has held a series of talks on its plans, which include a tour of the existing theatre, as part of a publicity blitz this winter.

"Seeing that our current theatre will not be able to operate in its current state for many more years made me realise that if we don't do something soon, Marlborough could be without a theatre of any sort.

"I, for one, remember what it was like before the current theatre was built. We had no adequate venue for shows, visiting acts or schools to perform in. I don't want to see that happen again."

Similar gripes against progress had been aired when the original theatre and Stadium 2000 were proposed, he said.

If funding is secured, construction of the new theatre is expected to be under way early next year. The project is expected to take two years to complete.