Mayor urges council to back conservatorium

The $24.3 million plan for a music conservatorium at the Christchurch Arts Centre could be approved by city councillors tomorrow.

Mayor Bob Parker has recommended councillors approve the deal to build Canterbury University's Conservatorium of Music on the Arts Centre car park, despite hundreds of submissions in opposition.

The consultation process prompted 475 opposing submissions and 31 in support.

Parker recommended that the deal should be approved on the condition that an acceptable resource consent be granted and that council borrowing would be "rates neutral" over the 50-year term of the lease.

Under the deal, the Arts Centre would lease the site to the council, which would borrow money to build the music centre. The university would sign a long-term lease which would cover the council's borrowing and lease expenses.

The council would borrow $24.3m to cover the cost of constructing the building and 38 car parks, a 20-year pre-payment of the land lease to the Arts Centre Trust Board, working capital and 40 extra car parks for council use.

The submissions raised concerns about council borrowing, the Arts Centre site, the council's involvement in education and the impact of the building on the historic site.

A council staff response to the concerns said the $24.3m borrowing would not limit council's ability to borrow, the 50-year lease with the university would limit the council's risk, and concerns over the building's impact on the Arts Centre would be tackled by the resource consent process.

The resource consent hearing is expected to be held between December 7 and 18.

- © Fairfax NZ News