Proposals for Victoria Square site

Press, 16 August 1984, Page 9

Proposals for Victoria Square site

Five proposals have been received for the Victoria Square development site between the Christchurch Town Hall and the Salvation Army Citadel. These were now being evaluated by a sub-commit-tee of the Christchurch City Council said the chairman of the Town Hall board of management, Sir Hamish Hay. This committee would have to confer with the board’s sub-committee about some aspects of the proposals because they could affect the Town Hall, he told a board meeting yesterday.

The closing date for proposals, which included four from international hotel chains, was August 3. “There are some interesting proposals, but they will take some time to evaluate," said Sir Hamish. Promotion film Approval in principle was given for two films promoting the Town Hall as a convention centre to be made in conjunction with the Canterbury Promotion Council.

Final approval will depend on the budget for the films prepared by the advertising agents making the film, Claude and Associates. One of the films will be for domestic use and the other for international use.

“It is important to draw the distinction between the domestic and international films,” said the Town Hall manager, Mr Ray Sleeman. “Overseas convention organisers need to get an indication of what New Zealand has to offer us well as our convention facilities.” By linking with the Promotion Council, it would be possible to get the films at a fraction of the cost of making them independently, he said.

Exactly the same film would be used, but with extended coverage of the Town Hall material. Aggressive marketing of facilities at the Town Hall was essential because changes in usage could happen rapidly, said Mr Sleeman. “Last year more than 50 per cent of the bookings for the James Hay Theatre were from three organisations. Two are not using it this year and the third, TVNZ, will no longer be needing it in December, 1984, and January, 1985, because the programme ‘That’s Country’ is finishing.”

The James Hay Theatre had relied heavily on TVNZ for usage, but it was generally better than the auditorium for conventions and could be promoted as such, he said.