Ashburton Council’s ‘Aesthetic’ Fix For Gallery Air Conditioning

Monday, 10 February 2025, 9:16 pm
Article: Jonathan Leask - Local Democracy Reporter

Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum’s air conditioning will move to an “aesthetically pleasing” ground-level location — pending resource consent approval.

Councillors voted last week for the new heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems enclosure to be built to the north (domain side) of the facility, on four carparks currently used by staff – which was option one.

The alternative, option two, placed it on the eastern side near the footpath and State Highway 1.

A land covenant on the resource consent meant the council couldn’t amend the consent for 10 years after it opened, and after the council must consult the six neighbouring properties before altering the facility.

This month [February], it can apply for consent changes to relocate the HVAC system to the ground floor to address the failing air conditioning system.

It is currently on the rooftop and was identified as needing upgraded back in 2018.

The $1.9 million project has been carried over in the budgets for years.

The council met with the six individual landowners in December to discuss the options.

Three supported option 2, one preferred option one, and two did not submit feedback.

The recommendation on the table was for option 2, but councillor Carolyn Cameron supported option 1 due to “the aesthetic”.

“I’m concerned about the change in appearance,” Cameron said, also noting the minimal noise difference between locations.

Cameron’s amendment supporting option one passed 6-4, with councillors Russell Ellis, Lynette Lovett, Liz McMillan, and Rob Mackle opposed.

Ellis had argued option 2 had a better chance of getting the resource consent variance.

“I agree it doesn’t look as good, but if we want our museum and art gallery to function as it should, we need to do this process and go with the most likely option to succeed.”

McMillan felt option 2 had neighbours backing and allowed room for any expansion in the future.

Lovett said it was “a waste of time" for the council to consult the neighbours if they didn't listen to them.

Councillor Tony Todd backed the “aesthetically pleasing” option 1 and pointed out the noise level from State Highway 1 was higher than the air conditioning units.

Mayor Neil Brown said the side location was preferred as “a visually better outcome, plus we avoid having to cut down a tree”.

The council will now apply for a variation of the resource consent to relocate the HVAC.

The enclosure will have 4-metre high acoustic walls on the north and east sides, and night-time noise from the plant was modelled at below 40 decibels, to comply with the district plan.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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