The postponed Tarrkarri gallery must go ahead despite blowout: industry leader

The proposed Tarrkarri Indigenous art gallery would cost two or three times more than the original estimates, says Premier Peter Malinauskas.

Tarrkarri Aboriginal Art and Cultures Centre Design credit: Diller Scofidio + Renfro and Woods Bagot. Image courtesy Lot Fourteen.

The postponed Tarrkarri Indigenous art gallery could cost two or three times more than the originally estimated $200 million, according to Premier Peter Malinauskas.

Mr Malinauskas said on ABC radio Monday it would be “in the range of multitudes of $200 million’’ to complete the gallery.

“It’s got to be good enough to make someone get on a plane to come to Adelaide to see it. And then when they go home, they tell everyone, you got to go check it out,’’ he said. “All I’m saying is that whatever we do, has to be good enough to be able to meet that standard. because otherwise why do it at all?’’

Mr Malinauskas said he would be seeking extra money from the federal government and potentially philanthropic investment to help meet the cost. The NSW Art Gallery has recently attracted $100 million in donations to help meet the cost of $344 million Sydney Modern project.

High-profile businessman and chair of the Committee for Adelaide, Raymond Spencer told The Advertiser that the project should go ahead even if it costs “considerably more than the $200 million’’.

However, he also said that an Indigenous art gallery was an idea he supported as chair of the former Economic Development Board, and forecast Tarrkarri “could become a very important part of the dynamic that attracts people to visit Adelaide’’.

“It’s certainly not worth half doing,’’ he said. “It needs to be done with real, real world-class excellence and could become for us like, MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) is in Hobart.

“It’s going to require a significant investment. It needs to be done as a best of class, a world class modern museum that’s accessible, multimodal and all of that.’’

The concept for a First Nations art gallery was unveiled by former premier Steven Marshall and early construction work had started on the site at Lot 14 on North Terrace before new Labor premier Peter Malinauskas put a hold on the project claiming a “$50 million cost blowout’’ and a “substandard’’ outcome.

Tarrkarri Aboriginal Art and Cultures Centre Design credit: Diller Scofidio + Renfro and Woods Bagot. Image courtesy Lot Fourteen.

Mr Malinauskas appointed a three-person committee to review the project comprising former Morrison government Indigenous Australians minister Ken Wyatt; former Labor NSW premier and foreign minister Bob Carr; and former BHP director and current Reserve Bank and Infrastructure SA board member Carolyn Hewson.

That report has been submitted to Cabinet, but Mr Malinauskas cast further doubt on the project in parliament, saying “if we are going to do something here we want to do it properly, and that’s why it has to be considered very, very carefully’’.

A government spokesperson said the report would be released but “the Government is of the firm view that if we proceed with the centre, we want to get it right and create something spectacular which delivers for our state for the long term, both culturally and economically’’.

It is expected the state government will seek an increase in federal government funding. The previous Morrison government contributed $85 million to the project which remains on the table

A spokeswoman for federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said “the Albanese Government remains committed to the delivery of the Tarrkarri project’’ but did not commit to further funding.

Chair of the Aboriginal reference group for the project, David Rathman, said he remained “optimistic’’ that Tarrkarri would be built.

I’ve naturally feeling that we should have been further down the track than what we are but I’m remaining positive (we’ll get) the outcome that we’re hoping for,’’ Mr Rathman said.

Property Council SA executive director Bruce Djite said “any wavering on the project or discussion of an alternative use for the current site would send the wrong message to the market who are considering Adelaide as an investment destination’’.

Deputy Liberal leader John Gardner called for the government to rule out the site being used for other purposes such as housing.

“I think people also have a very real concern about the idea of apartments being built on the parklands.’’