Local firms pull out of Theatre Royal and museum tender

Monday, 5 January 2026

Local building firms have withdrawn their interest in the construction contract for one of the Timaru district’s largest building projects.

The revelation came in the Friends of the Theatre Royal’s December and January newsletter which says members of the group met with Timaru District councillor and projects and procurement committee member Chris Thomas in November to discuss the project.

Referring to the contract for the construction of Timaru’s $47.2 million Theatre Royal and museum development, Thomas itemised three points to those at the meeting, the third being that tenders for the main construction work for the project closed on December 15, the newsletter says.

“Local firms have withdrawn their intentions so the TDC [Timaru District Council] will look further afield,’’ it says.

“It is quite possible there will be sub-contract options for interior work which could appeal locally.’’

When contacted on Friday, Thomas said he could not elaborate further.

Earlier in 2025 the council sought tenders for five contracts to work on the major capital project.

It had since awarded four of those, and in December confirmed it had received five registrations of interest for the main construction contract.

At the time, the council’s general manager regulatoryPaul Cooper told The Timaru Herald three were from from tier one construction companies, one from a tier two company, and the other was a joint-venture between two Timaru construction companies.

A tier one construction company is a large contractor capable of handling major multi-billion dollar infrastructure projects, managing everything from design to handover. A tier two contractor would be capable of handling medium-sized projects.

A request for tender had been issued to all five submitters with a due date of December 15, Cooper said.

In July, the council said it planned to award that contract by December 8.

The project was required to be completed by December 2026, as per the council’s agreement with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, to remain eligible for a $11.6m Government contribution.

Thomas also told those at the meeting in November a theatre manager should be appointed by Christmas.

Applications for the permanent full-time role were open until November 17, but the job advert said the council could make an appointment prior to the closing date if a suitable applicant was found.

The council had yet to announce if it had made an appointment.

Fundraising would be essential for projects “over and above the theatre itself’’, the newsletter says.

It says Thomas was interested to know how the Friends of the Theatre Royal could help, or whether the group would be involved in any fundraising at all.

“A fundraising committee will have to be convened and it will have to identify projects that will require additional monies,’’ the newsletter says.

“Additional funds may be required for other items such as chattels, the hospitality area, even for general equipment that has been stored. Some projects may require a budget.’’

Fundraising ideas included a buy-a-seat-in-your-name campaign, and other ideas were welcomed.

There would be no centre aisle among seats or stalls, it says.

It also says seats for the theatre were purchased earlier on and it was the group’s understanding they did not have cup holders, and were wider and deeper so the capacity would be about 800. The theatre originally seated about 1000 before its closure, for safety reasons, in 2019.

More space would be left between the rows for easier access, it says.

Thomas told the meeting of his idea to have the front three rows removable for certain occasions.