The grant was allocated as part of the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund (BLERF), an initiative of the State Government’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), to install new change rooms and disabled access at the historic theatre.

Advertise with News of The Area today.
It’s worth it for your business.
Message us.
Phone us – (02) 4981 8882.
Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au

Bowraville Arts Council Secretary Dale Hawkins and President Ricardo Gonsalves addressed Council, speaking against a recommendation from Council’s Director of Engineering Services to cancel the funding.

They described being completely taken aback by the lack of consultation or communication, and the urgency of this sudden decision.

“We were shocked and blindsided by the decision to recommend cancelling the long-awaited improvements to this valuable community asset,” Mrs Hawkins told Council.

Council’s Director of Engineering Services, David Moloney made the recommendation to terminate the agreement with the NSW Government after preparing a report on the project which was presented to Council at last Thursday’s meeting.

His review found that amid escalating building costs and a lack of understanding of the fire safety requirements at the time, the project had been severely under-budgeted, with an estimated shortfall of around $650,000.

An extension to 30 August 2024 was given to Council by DPIRD, to either mutually terminate the grant agreement or submit a variation request to change the scope of the project.

He received advice that given the late stage and number of time extensions already received, changing the scope of the project may trigger a project viability assessment (PVA) by the Grants Management Office.

A negative PVA could mean the Council must repay $41,000 already spent towards the work, according to Council General Manager Bede Spannagle.

Mr Gonsalves claimed the Arts Council had only become aware of the report’s findings on the Theatre project when the document became available on Council’s website last Friday, 23 August.

According to the speakers, repeated requests for information on the project’s progress over the past few years have often been either ignored or dismissed.

A series of project managers have been assigned to the venture by Council since 2022 and although a DA has been obtained, it appears that a construction certificate has not yet been issued.

“More funds should be found,” Mr Gonsalves said in his closing remarks to Council.

“We firmly believe that this project can be completed in the remaining ten months and implore the council to reject the recommendation to cancel the project and complete it as originally approved, to scope and on time.”

According to Mr Gonsalves, the Bowraville Theatre is a unique heritage venue which is well supported by the community and a team of committed volunteers who rely on ticket sales, membership and grants to keep the facility open.

He said the 1930s cinema building has acclaimed acoustics but requires a range of upgrades to ensure that it is safe, accessible and viable into the future.

Since reopening after COVID closures, the theatre has hosted 27 movies, 52 live performances, five meetings, fifteen workshops and seventeen school group activities, Mr Gonsalves said.

The recently introduced live music and theatre performances have been “packed out”.

“[The theatre] has brought life back into the community in an artistic and cultural way that has been noticed,” Mr Gonsalves said.

However, there is currently no disabled access to the stage and performers must negotiate a multitude of widely and irregularly spaced steps.

A shed installed at the back of the theatre has no running water or toilet facilities and is a “temporary solution” at best, he said.

“From as far as we can tell, this report was prepared in less than a week without the requested on-site meeting, so we struggle to understand how a thorough review of this project has been carried out,” Mr Gonsalves said.

If allowed to go ahead, all works must be completed by 30 June 2025 or the BLERF funds received must be repaid.

To add to the Council’s predicament, Mayor Hoban informed councillors that in ‘caretaker mode’ – a period of reduced legislative power in the lead-up to September local government elections – the incoming Council cannot be bound to budget restrictions imposed by the current Council.

“It’s a standing resolution of this Council that [for] any motion that includes additional work or funds, we must identify the source of funding,” said Mayor Hoban.

Councillors voted against terminating the agreement for now and decided instead to work with the Bowraville Arts Council to explore options for the project including lobbying State and Federal governments for additional funding.

The project was originally funded in 2013, with $500,000 being allocated and then retracted.

Supporters are frustrated with the delays and false promises they have received since then.

“I’ll acknowledge we haven’t dealt with this issue well,” said Council GM Bede Spannagle before being interrupted by loud applause from the public gallery.

“I acknowledge that the communication hasn’t been great.

“I’m new to this role but I can guarantee this will not happen again,” he said.

Mr Spannagle gave assurances that the Bowraville Theatre is a priority for his administration and that even if this grant agreement is terminated, staff will search for alternate funding sources.

By Ned COWIE