ARTS HUB BILL NOT BOUND FOR COUNCIL

FUNDING for the new mega arts hub promised by Mayor Jenny Hill would need to come from the State and Federal governments as part of their responsibility to the trigovernment City Deal, instead of through the council, Cr Hill said.

The exact location in the CBD for the major 1000-seat concert hall and 400-seat performance space, the centrepiece of a new art and events policy released by Cr Hill on Wednesday, isn’t locked in either.

It comes as the arts community, through Professional Arts North Queensland and the committee behind the Townsville Performing Arts Centre proposal, “cautiously” welcomed the new policy.

TPAC chair Trevor Keeling also warned Townsville’s arts scene couldn’t afford for a new precinct to be put on the backburner any longer, as the city continued to lose large events due to a lack of space.

But the future is looking murky for TPAC, with Cr Hill saying the community-driven proposed $45 million expansion of the Civic Theatre, which includes an amphitheatre and a number of smaller theatre spaces, wasn’t “completely off” the table.

Asked if the council would consider funding the new arts hub as Cairns Regional

Council had done, by spending nearly $70 million of ratepayer money to build the problem-riddled Cairns Performing Arts Centre, Cr Hill said Townsville could “do a much better job” if the State and Federal governments chipped in, as they under the City Deal.

Townsville City Council independent candidate Trevor Roberts (Div 6), a former councillor, blasted the Mayor’s plan, saying the arts hub was a “pie in the sky” should project unlikely to eventuate in the next five to 10 years.

Mr Roberts also demanded the council give a clear answer on what exactly is to happen at the Riverway Arts Precinct, a topic Cr Hill has avoided answering directly.