Arts axed from Council entertainment complex

PROPONENTS of an arts, exhibition, convention and entertainment centre for the Maroochydore CBD remain behind the Sunshine Coast Council’s bid for state funding

Former Maroochy Shire Council mayor Alison Barry-Jones.

PROPONENTS of an arts, exhibition, convention and entertainment centre for the Maroochydore CBD remain behind the Sunshine Coast Council's bid for state funding despite it dropping the arts component from its proposed complex.

The council has written to the Sunshine Coast Arts, Convention Exhibition and Entertainment Association saying it had applied for funding for an "entertainment, convention and exhibition centre" but had endorsed The Events Centre Caloundra as the primary performing arts venue for the Sunshine Coast for the next 15 years.

The decision has disappointed key ACE members, who say the Sunshine Coast's premier performing arts venue should be central to the whole of the Sunshine Coast and grouped with the entertainment, convention and exhibition centre facilities in the Maroochydore CBD.

ACE president Alison Barry-Jones said they were "very happy" that the council had applied for up to $100 million to build an entertainment, convention and exhibition centre and would continue to support its funding bid, "but we are concerned that they have now taken out the performing arts centre".

ACE member and former Maroochy Shire Mayor Joe Natoli said it was illogical to position a conference centre at Maroochydore and expect conference delegates to drive to Caloundra to take in a show.

Mr Natoli said infrastructure was long overdue on the Sunshine Coast and the council should not attempt to get away with anything less than a complete arts, entertainment, exhibition and convention centre.

"Our people are paying their taxes and helping building facilities in other communities. It's about time we put up our hands and said enough's enough."

In a formal response to the council, ACE says the Sunshine Coast is the largest population base without a fully tiered theatre of commercial size.

ACE says the council's theatre-less proposal was based on a report by consulting firm Ranbury which proposed a 4500-seat flat-floored venue suitable for conferences, performances and large-scale entertainment.

The ACE response says every other report prepared since 1986 was prepared on the basis that a properly designed regional theatre would be built at Maroochydore.

ACE has recommended a three-stage development starting with a tiered theatre of 1500 seats and a multi-purpose exhibition and conference hall of 2500 seats and 12 meeting rooms.

The second stage would comprise a blackbox theatre of 350 seats and a 600sq m regional gallery, and the third stage would contain an exhibition-sports hall.