A Christchurch arts leader says last week's decision to completely restore the town hall has hobbled plans for a wider performing arts precinct.
Christchurch City Council has committed $127 million to restoring the hall, which leaves about $30 million to develop buildings for the Music Centre of Christchurch, the Court Theatre and the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.
Felicity Price, former chair of the Court Theatre and symphony orchestra, said that money might be enough to build a new Court Theatre, but cannot fund all three.
If the main auditorium of the town hall was kept and the rest demolished, she said there would be tens of millions of dollars extra for the precinct.
She wants the incoming council to overturn the decision to restore the town hall.
