Gold Coast City budget fast forwards plans for HOTA’S $538 million Lyric theatre

New plans show how the Gold Coast’s $538 million theatre precinct will be developed. Check it out

New plans show how a $538 million lyric theatre precinct will be developed on the Gold Coast, with at least $1 million in budget money put aside for council to fast track the arts project.

Mayor Tom Tate says the plan is to create a business case so the proposed theatre at the Home of the Arts (HOTA) can be “shovel ready” for future state and federal funding.

Councillors will have to make a critical decision on whether to push the button on funding much-needed refurbishments to the existing buildings or press ahead with the new facility.

“HOTA has already been given previous money embedded in the previous budget unspent. So this is just a top up,” Mr Tate said.

“The question I asked (of council officers) is how much money do you need to top it up to shovel ready so I can do advocacy for state and federal government (funding). The officers said we need one million dollars to do that.”

New updated designs for the planned Lyric theatre at HOTA on the Gold Coast.

The Mayor confirmed Gold Coast City Council has a choice to make on whether to release funding at the same time for much needed improvements to older buildings in the precinct.

“We have money set aside in the reserve funds to replenish the precinct,” he said.

The question was whether to begin those works or to wait and move staff across to the Lyric Theatre after it was built.

“That will be up for discussion by the councillors,” Mr Tate said.

The latest report on the new arts facility shows the 1800-seat Lyric Theatre will have a potential conference centre.

Designs showing potential Lyric theatre, big enough for 1800 fans at HOTA on the Gold Coast.

“Design for the new theatre building will need to include design for the link and renovation of the existing HOTA central building to ensure buildings can be connected in the future,” officers wrote.

“However, the new building could be delivered as stand-alone building, leaving the existing HOTA Central in its current state.”

Renovations of HOTA Central range from a minor to major refit, which includes a new foyer, cafes and bars along with upgrade of existing 800-seat theatre and cinemas.

The new Lyric Theatre hosting category A musicals like Frozen and Harry Potter would attract an extra 260,000 people annually to the precinct including 38,000 from southeast Queensland and interstate, the report said.

Budget talks — Mayor Tom Tate wants the plans for the Lyric Theatre done so it is “shovel ready”. Picture: John Gass.

Operations will take five years to ramp up but the returns are estimated to be $35 million in accommodation and visitor spend.

A modest refurbishment of the existing entertainment centre with no new building would cost $8.5 million, but extras would see that amount increase to more than $17 million.

The costs for creating a new theatre range from $246 million to $538 million if a new link between the buildings and major makeover occurs.

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