Alstonville Cultural Centre $12.6m revamp revealed
The Ballina Shire town is expected to get a major upgrade with new concept design plans detailing a reinvigoration of Alstonville’s cultural centre. SEE THE PLANS.
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A $12.6m concept plan for a Ballina Shire’s town cultural centre upgrade has been revealed, with plans to expand library services, community meeting spaces and facilities.
The new two-storey library and state of the art facilities will replace the former Alstonville Cultural Centre on Commercial Rd if approved.
A development application, submitted to council on behalf of KO & CO Architecture Pty Ltd, said it was a ‘regionally significant development’, which meant it would ultimately head to the Northern Regional Planning Panel for approval.
The demolition of the current entry foyer, library, amenities and outdoor patio area are outlined to make way for a bounty of new buildings including a new library, centralised amenities, umpires’ changeroom, new office, reception and new entrance foyer and servery.
The upgrade would also extend the existing sports hall in a “substantial facelift” to the building.
“The proposed development involves alterations and additions to the existing older style community facility on the land,” the application read.
“The proposed works are considered to represent a substantial ‘refresh’ of the built form and will improve the appearance of the building within the streetscape and the relationship of the building to the public domain.”
The existing site rests directly in front of the Alstonville Showgrounds and its heritage-listed memorial gates.
The report noted that the new building would exceed a 8.5m height limit by 0.45m, proposing a minor variation to height regulations for the site.
“It is neither reasonable nor necessary to require compliance with the height of building standard,” the application read.
The Lennox Head Cultural Centre faced a similar upgrade back in 2020, costing an estimated $2.58 million to reinvigorate the North Coast arts scene.
Most recently, the Alstonville Cultural Centre was the subject of community division when it was handed over to a private film production company Byron Studios for a two-year lease.
The studio has since found a more permanent home at the Tuckombil Quarry site.
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