Tauranga City Council has signed off a $50 million museum at Cliff Rd after a nine-to-two split vote this afternoon.

Ratepayers’ contribution to the museum build cost would be capped at $20.65m. They will also be asked to fork out $20m for a new central library. The rest of the funding was expected to be raised from external sources.

The council voted five to four in favour of building a $25m new central library on Willow St.

Both projects will go into the council’s 10-year budget, which will go out for public consultation in the first half of next year.

The council will review their decisions alongside community submissions mid-2018.

Some councillors said they had concerns about a Cliff Rd museum – potential consent delays, Cliff Rd residents’ fears, build and operating cost – but supported putting the project out for public consultation to find out what the community thought.

To read the full Bay of Plenty Times article, click here.

The Tauranga Chamber welcomes Council’s commitment to a new museum but has not expressed a view on a preferred location.

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