LET’S GET OUR ARTS IN GEAR
Progress on neglected Courthouse Hotel site
CAIRNS Regional Council has finally unveiled its vision to transform the Courthouse Hotel as part of an arts precinct. But the wait is far from over, and former regulars of the pub wonder why last drinks were called so early.
IT IS a damn long time between drinks but finally there is a flicker of movement at the pub with no beer.
Cairns Regional Councillors will today vote on a proposal to “passively” activate the stagnant Courthouse Hotel grounds on Abbott St over the next year.
The temporary resurrection, to include outdoor art markets, light projection and a sculpture garden, will come to a dead stop in April so $4.2 million in renovations can finally begin on the heritagelisted building.
The facility will have been shut for almost 2½ years before restoration works begin, and more than three years by their completion in February 2020.
Then there is the anticipated $40 million in grants the council wants to weave the Courthouse into a new worldclass arts precinct alongside the existing Cairns Art Gallery and the old Mulgrave Shire building on the Esplanade.
Those works are not expected to be completed until 2021 at the earliest.
“The $40 million … in main will be for the new exhibition building behind the old Mulgrave office,” Mayor Bob Manning said.
“We’re depending on our local pollies to go in to bat for the Tropical North.
“With this, we will have the volume to turn ourself into a fair dinkum player in the Australian art world.”
In the past couple of days, demolition crews ripping apart the neighbouring former Sejumi Institute complex knocked down the Courthouse’s famous outdoor projection screen.
That construction work could lay waste to plans to start using the lawns next month.
“At the request of the adjoining landowner, the security fence, the old outdoor movie screen and two light poles have been removed to assist with the renovation of that property,” a report to this morning’s meeting says.
“This has enabled the balance of front lawn area to be opened up for more passive recreation.
“However, construction being undertaken on the adjoining site could impact the usability of the Courthouse front lawn, hindering any level of activation.”
Cr Manning said it was important to get something happening on the lawns “so people feel it’s getting some use at this early stage”.