Arts hub in bigger picture

Sport centre plan

THE Surf Coast Sport and Recreation Centre will become a multipurpose arts space following a council decision on Tuesday night.

The centre will no longer be needed for indoor sport in 2021 when the Surf Coast Multipurpose Indoor Stadium is completed.

Surf Coast Shire officers urged councillors to make a decision on the centre’s future.

“If council doesn’t make this decision, there is a risk that this does not meet the expectation of members of the community,” said a report written by community relations manager Chris Pike.

“There could be a view that council is taking too long to make a decision when previous planning work has shown this building could accommodate a theatre and exhibition space.”

Mayor Rose Hodge told ABC radio presenter Jon Faine in May an arts centre was lacking in Torquay.

“I think culturally we really need to put money in this,” Cr Hodge said.

“The State ( Government) didn’t pick up on it, and apparently the federals didn’t either.”

The council has undertaken two arts facility planning studies.

The 2018 study produced a concept plan and estimated capital costs close to $2 million for an arts space in the centre.

Torquay Theatre Troupe has been calling for a theatre space for almost 20 years.

President Michael Baker is calling for a small-scale theatre, including rehearsal rooms.

“When you have a theatre that only holds 80 people in the local senior citizens’ hall, that’s it,” Mr Baker said.

“I think we could increase that to 120 seats, we’re not asking for a GPAC.”

Council has allocated $65,000 to undertake a feasibility study on a future cultural facility and library.