At the past two Eurobodalla Shire Council-held forums on the McKay Park Aquatic and Arts Centre conducted for business, I requested the list of potential users for the new arts centre and if the users included Batemans Bay Community Centre users, so informed input could be made. On both occasions I received a positive response that the request would be considered, though I heard nothing further.
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At the last forum, I asked if a business case could be furnished. The council officer said he would see if he could provide the business case in confidence to the Batemans Bay Business and Tourism Chamber. The architects interjected and said there was no business case, though there was a list of potential users. Those present were gobsmacked.
Much of the general manager's response to this motion focuses on offsetting the new arts centre costs with the community centre costs. This rationale signifies the change of use of the new centre to an inevitable replacement for the community centre.
I do not believe the people of the shire will reconcile the new centre becoming a glorified community centre. The community expects an iconic arts facility which would provide significant entertainment and not be a white elephant.
The new centre needs sufficient seating capacity and open-space capacity to be multi-use, relevant and limit being a burden to the ratepayer. The new centre design has been reduced to a size that will not hold the Wiggles or national acts, nor trade shows, nor multiple choirs and exhibitions.
The new centre is now too small to be leased or privately managed due to lack of financially viable seating capacity or open space, thus increasing ratepayer burden.
If the council sells the centre, then it needs to reset expectations about the new centre as it will no longer be a destination venue. The council also needs to reset community centre users' expectations if Otiums business case including suggested rates is adopted.
Ulladulla has 450 seats and 1500 seats, Nowra has 900 seats, the Soldiers club has about 450 seats, why are we doing 350 seats with no multi-use space?
Edited extract of Batemans Bay Business and Tourism Chamber president David Maclachlan's address to Eurobodalla Shire Council on Tuesday, May 28, regarding a petition to keep the community centre.
