The Central Otago District Council (CODC) has approved the next stages of detailed design for the Cromwell Town Centre project.

In the publicly excluded part of the meeting on April 24, the council met to discuss whether to progress with further analysis and development of preferred options for the town centre project to be consulted on in the 2025-34 Long-term Plan (LTP).

After discussion, it was agreed that a detailed breakdown and further investigation of the costs would be required to enable the council to make a decision on the preferred options, to be consulted on in the LTP, which would be discussed at the council meeting on May 29.

Funding of $665,000 for further detailed investigation was in the 2023-24 budget and is to be carried forward for the 2024-25 Annual Plan, currently out for public consultation. 

It was also agreed that a report on where the governance oversight sat - either the CODC or community board - should also go to the May meeting.

The Cromwell Town Centre project is part of the Cromwell Masterplan, that started in 2018, which approved the process, funding and procurement approach for the project. 

Four workstreams were identified - the spatial framework, the Cromwell Memorial Hall, which was now underway, the town centre and the civic facilities.

The Cromwell Masterplan was extensively consulted on, and funding included in the 2021-31 LTP. 

However, as a result of the current economic climate, and the cost increase in building the town hall, the council made the decision to consult with the community on the town centre through the upcoming 2025-34 LTP.

In a separate resolution, the council also made a decision regarding the funding of any property purchases for the Cromwell Town Centre project. 

It was agreed that negotiations for property purchases should cease until the various options for the town centre were worked through and approved by council, and that those options would form part of the LTP.