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Government funding of $11.6m was awarded to the Timaru District Council s Theatre Royal upgrade and Heritage precinct project. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, was in Timaru to confirm the Government support for the $23m project which ‘met the criteria of the Government’s ‘shovel-ready’ programme, in that it was ready to proceed and would create jobs. ‘‘The design and construction of the theatre upgrade and new (museum) facility is estimated to directly employ 155-210 people.’’ A planned $7.5m redevelopment of Alpine Energy Stadium received the biggest handout from the Timaru District Council’s stimulus fund. The Fraser Park Community Trust, which runs the facility, received $900,000 of the $1.85m available as the council culled 20 funding applications back to 10 successful projects.
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Aerial view showing the Timaru Showgrounds site, which Redwood Group wants to turn into a 34,000 sqm retail development.
The threat of a Judicial Review hangs over a proposed retail centre development at Timaru s Showgrounds Hill. On Tuesday, a Timaru District Council spokesman confirmed it had “received correspondence on behalf of Timaru Town Centre Ratepayers Action Group (TCRAG) giving notice of their intent to lodge an application for judicial review regarding public notification” for the proposed development which was granted resource consents on Friday. The decision, by council-appointed independent commissioner Allan Cubitt, granted Auckland-based developer Redwood Group non-publicly notified consents for subdivision and land-use to turn the 12 hectare site into a 34,000sqm shopping centre.