$39m outlay on art and sporting events
TOWNSVILLE City Council will fund a $700,000 business case into a new North Australia Arts Precinct as part of the 2022-23 budget. The funding comes as the council spends more than $39m on art and sporting events over the next 12 months.
The council said the business case would build on the Concert Hall business case.
However, the government has indicated the business case would look into the whole arts precinct, not just the concert hall.
Community and Cultural Development Committee chairwoman Ann-maree Greaney said multiple studies had demonstrated that Townsville needed a new entertainment and exhibition precinct to enable a vibrant performing and visual arts culture.
“The business case will provide a detailed understanding of the visual and performing arts facilities that could form part of the precinct, an assessment of the economic impact of the facility, jobs created, cost estimate and overall time frames for construction to assist with funding,” she said.
Mayor Jenny Hill said it was important for the city to maintain the momentum it had gained while hosting events amid the pandemic.
“We have attracted national and international-calibre brands like the Wallabies, the All Blacks, the Matildas, Aston Villa, and Elton John in recent years, which has given us a platform to showcase our beautiful city to new national and international audiences,” Ms Hill said. “We are committed to fully leveraging on the opportunities that hosting these world class events has provided to the city.”