$5m grant to bring the magic to Maclean Civic Hall area

With performers collapsing and sick from the heat, and unable to fit on stage, hall will get long awaited upgrade.

Dorothy (Isla Gray), Toto (Heidi the dog) and the Wicked Witch of the West (Jocelyn Menzies) join with the Little Scottish Town Youth Theatre Group Director, Janet Gray, Chris Gulaptis & Kevin Hogan to welcome the $5 million injection of funds for the much needed upgrade of the Maclean Civic Hall.

Janet Gray has watched as thousands of ther students have trod the boards at the Maclean Civic Hall, and even remembers 40 years ago when she performed.

“It was a lot smaller then, and had these wooden wings that rotated,” she said.

“People had been using it for a while by then too.”

The hall is showing its age though, with the aging building not up to hosting modern performances.

“There’s no space at the side, and the stage space is limited, you’ve often got kids kicking and bumping into each other because of the logistics,” Ms Gray said.

“The dressing rooms also aren’t up to standard, and they have to be booked separately as they’re not considered part of the hall.”

And in summer, as many local dance schools look to show off their end-of-year presentations, a common issue not only turns people away, but makes it sometims impossible to perform.

“The heat is uneblieveable, it could get up to 40C backstage,” Ms Gray said.

“There have been kids who have passed out, or have been sick because it’s so hot in there without air conditioning.”

Dorothy (Isla Gray), Toto (Heidi the dog) and the Wicked Witch of the West (Jocelyn Menzies) join with the Little Scottish Town Youth Theatre Group Director, Janet Gray, Chris Gulaptis & Kevin Hogan to welcome the $5 million injection of funds for the much needed upgrade of the Maclean Civic Hall.

On Wednesday, Ms Gray along with some cast members who had brought some magic to the Civic Hall stage in the most recent production of The Wizard of Oz, came to receive the news of long-awaited upgrade of the hall.

The upgrade will come courtesy of a $5m grant secured by Clarence Valley Council under the Federal and NSW State Government’s Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund and forms phase 1 of Council’s Maclean Community Precinct project.

“This project involves upgrading the kitchen, installing new lighting and sound systems in the auditorium, and providing accessible amenities,” Page MP Kevin Hogan said.

“In addition, existing buildings will be removed to create an outdoor space that connects River Street with the Clarence River.

Nationals MP for Clarence Chris Gulaptis said the facilities in the hall are long past their used by date and this extensive upgrade will give the precinct a new lease on life.

“The Civic Hall is a focal meeting point for a range of community activities such as concerts and musicals, Eisteddfods and public meetings,” Mr Gulaptis said.

“It will also have the capacity to serve as a community refuge in times of natural disaster.

The Maclean Civic Hall is set for a $5 million makeover thanks to funding secured by Clarence Valley Council under the Federal and NSW State Government’s Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund.

The much needed refurbishment of the hall forms Phase 1 of Council’s Maclean Community Precinct project.

An artist impression of the new civic hall as part of the Maclean Community Precinct.

Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan said this project will boost our economic recovery and create jobs in our community.

“This project involves upgrading the kitchen, installing new lighting and sound systems in the auditorium, and providing accessible amenities,” Mr Hogan said.

“In addition, existing buildings will be removed to create an outdoor space that connects River Street with the Clarence River.

Clarence MP Chris Gulaptis said the facilities in the hall are long past their used by date and this extensive upgrade will give the precinct a new lease on life.

“The Civic Hall is a focal meeting point for a range of community activities such as concerts and musicals, Eisteddfods and public meetings,” he said.

“It will also have the capacity to serve as a community refuge in times of natural disaster.

“Part of the upgrade will include the removal of existing buildings to create an outdoor community space connecting the main street with the the magnificent Clarence River, allowing additional capacity for large events.

“This is a long overdue refurbishment project for Maclean and it will be exciting to see the final makeover.

Ms Gray welcomed the upgrade and said she hoped to see a bigger stage and side stage area to take away some of the logisitical problems of performing within the hall.

“The kids who perform here, they love being here and love this space, but we know how much better it could be for everyone,” she said.

“Performing gives these kids someting to come together for with like minded kids and adults who really nurture them ... and it’s like another family.”