Arts Centre opening delayed

The West Gippsland Arts Centre will not open in September as hoped with two community-run events forced to move to Lardner Park.

The $14.1 million redevelopment was originally set to open in August before delays saw the date pushed back to mid-September.

However, the West Gippsland Dance Festival was advised 11 days ago that the venue would not be ready in time for its annual eisteddfod running from September 21 to 30.

Festival organisers of the festival, which had attracted 2100 performance entries, toured Lardner Park on Sunday before announcing the venue change.

The West Gippsland Performing Arts Competition’s “Parasteddfod” was set to be the first event at the arts centre on Thursday, September 20. However, Baw Baw Shire mayor Joe Gauci said it was one of two events now being accommodated at Lardner Park.

When the Gazette asked the reason for the delay, Cr Gauci said, “there is no new delay”.

“Ongoing dialogue is occurring daily with the builder to confirm progress at the site,” he responded.

“There may potentially be other events impacted,” said Cr Gauci. “We don’t have an opening date at this point but will certainly advise once confirmed.”

When the Gazette received a tour of the construction site in January, Baw Baw Shire arts and culture manager Rob Robson said the practical completion date was set for July and believed it would open to the public in August.

However, in April, the West Gippsland Performing Arts Competition and Warragul Regional College were forced to reconsider options for events when it was revealed that compulsory fire protection works had caused “unavoidable” delays.

Although acknowledging an opening date was not “water tight” in May, Mr Robson hoped a community celebration would be held in conjunction with the Warragul Farmers’ Market on Saturday, September 15.

“August is doubtful, but we are hoping for September and working towards that,” said Mr Robson at the time.

After cancelling the festival in 2017, West Gippsland Dance Festival president Shona Jeffrey said it was disappointing not to be in the new venue.

“It would have been fantastic to be there,” said Mrs Jeffrey. “I always knew it would be close.”

“I’m not at all upset with the arts centre,” she emphasised. “They are going to make sure the festival is good, and we can offer the best we can.”

Mrs Jeffrey said feedback from competitors and teachers had been “just amazing” with all impressed by the committee’s positive outlook.

“The only other option we had was to cancel.”