Opera house hire 'too costly'

ROSA STUDHOLME

A country music association says the Oamaru Opera House has become too expensive for it to hire for its annual competition.

The building was refurbished in a contentious $10 million Waitaki District Council project that was completed in 2009.

The Central Coast Country Music Association, based in Oamaru, had planned to hold its annual junior and intermediate country and variety music competition at the opera house.

But organisers say a requirement to take out limited liability insurance had made it unaffordable.

To hire the full auditorium for one day costs $700 for a not-for-profit group, $550 for the stalls only with a full stage, and $450 for stalls only and the apron stage.

Convener Ray Wilson said the competition, now in its 26th year, had been held at the opera house for the past two years. But this year it had decided the insurance, with an excess of $1800 on top of hire fees, was too expensive, Mr Wilson said.

"We had to change our venue this year because of rental costs at the opera house. It was out of our funding reach.

"They've put up the charges and then also asked us to take out [the insurance]. That really puts it outside of the scope we can really afford. We've just decided no, that's not really us."

He said it was disappointing, but the association had no choice.

"There is just no way we can do that. We are not prepared to go down that road."

The event, set down for July 1, would instead be held at the Oamaru Club.

"It's disappointing for us because the opera house was the pick of the venues."

Oamaru Opera House director Richard McWha said groups and businesses were legally required to have public liability insurance.

"We do enforce it.

"Every business should have public liability insurance, and every club should have public liability insurance as well. We can't see there's any issue at all."

He said it cost about $120 a year.

"We used to offer a service where we could hire [the insurance] by the day, and we no longer do that.

"We've sold it to them on a daily basis, just to get local groups aware that this sort of thing exists.

"We've still got the same policy, but you have to go directly to the insurance broker."

He said public liability insurance was normal in larger centres.

"All ... venues in cities demand it. Oamaru never did."

Many sports groups were surprised they needed the insurance, he said.

"At the end of the day it's up to the individual clubs to manage their risk."

The Oamaru Opera House was one of the cheapest venues in the country to hire.

"If you sell downstairs you'd only have to charge $2 a ticket to cover costs."

Prices generally increased each year, he said.

Groups should be prepared to raise their admission prices to cover the increased costs, he said. Generally, audiences were prepared to pay more.

The Waitaki Multicultural Council hires the opera house for its annual concert.

Treasurer Sandra Tonkin said the group was able to manage the costs. There was inexpensive group public liability insurance available from providers that some groups may not be aware of, she said.

"We try to find funding to cover the costs. It's not an issue."

However, some groups may find it an issue, she said.

The opera house was a "wonderful venue".

- © Fairfax NZ News