LAUNCESTON'S museums should be consolidated to one site and the University of Tasmania has offered the Inveresk site.
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Launceston City Council Alderman Ted Sands said yesterday, as the ongoing operating costs of the Queen Victorian Museum and Art Gallery at Royal Park and Inveresk was a burden and the university was reassessing its future at Newnham, the idea should be considered.
It is understood operating the art gallery and museum sites costs the council about $4 million a year, with the state government contributing $1.2 million.
The remainder is made up from rates.
Something which Alderman Sands said the council could hardly afford and was an ongoing concern.
"We've got these two massive sites, so if they were combined in some way - it just makes sense and saves the council some money," he said.
Alderman Sands said that although the university was going through it's own uncertainty, this could be a viable option for both organisations and would also continue the push for greater student life closer to the city by moving the Newnham facilities.
He said discussions between both need to take place.