The Southland Museum is now one step closer to being re-opened, with Invercargill City Councillors voting for a report outlining all of the options for redevelopment of the pyramid building to be prepared within five months.

By having it ready in five months, this will enable the council to include the options in the Long-term Plan which is due to be consulted on in late February/early March. 

The Southland Museum and Art Gallery pyramid building was closed in April 2018 after it was deemed earthquake-prone and a threat to public safety. Since then Invercargill city has been missing a key family attraction and members of the public have been crying out to have it back.

The motion was put forward by Invercargill City Councillor and chair of the Southland Museum Art Gallery Trust board Toni Biddle who said it was time there was "clear direction forward" for the museum building now that the ICC had the autonomy of its governance. 

"I'm doing this now because finally, one entity, us, the council has the mandate to make decisions on the activity of the museum, the re-development of the museum and the future of the museum."

She said she was very concerned about "a road map" being discussed at the council, which would result in decisions being "held back for reporting until June 30, 2020."

Cr Biddle asked that ICC Chief Executive Clare Hadley report back within five months with all of the options for the redevelopment of the museum.

Cr Crackett said she "whole-heartedly" supported the motion but questioned whether allocating five months to report on the options for the redevelopment was a realistic time frame.

Chief Executive Clare Hadley said she had some concerns around the five months, saying this would likely not be enough time to complete the task thoroughly and source a project manager to oversee the job. 

"I'm not dodging the five months, but I am suggesting that a progress report in three months would be a good way to go," she said

Ms Biddle became increasingly frustrated and expressed that there needed to be a timeframe set out, to avoid the process dragging out anymore as it has done for the last two years. 

Ms Hadley said she and Ms Biddle were "not at odds" as the discussions became more heated, which prompted the Infrastructural Services Committee chair Ian Pottinger to call a five-minute adjournment so Cr Biddle and Mrs Hadley could gain some clarity on exactly what the other was asking in order to agree on and amend the motion.

The amended motion asked that CEO Clare Hadley report back to the council within five months with all of the options for the redevelopment of the museum pyramid building.

It also recommended a budget estimate of $250,000 and that where possible, the council would prefer that local firms to support local businesses.

The moving of this amendment was met by cheers and applause from the public gallery. 

Members of the public – eager to see the museum opened again as soon as possible, came along to the meeting.

Before the meeting, Tracey Wright-Tawha, chief executive of Nga Kete Matauranga Pounamu Charitable Trust said she was keen to see some progress made on the re-opening of the museum soon.

"Our local museum is one that families have grown up with for many years and it would be great to see it open again in that same location so families can have that experience again and a fun day out."