$1.3m Pilbeam Theatre business case study to go ahead

Could a new Pilbeam Theatre be built in its carpark? Or should the aging icon simply be renovated and refurbished? A $1.3m study will investigate options for its future. VOTE IN OUR POLL

Pilbeam Theatre around the opening days in 1979. Councillors have decided to go ahead with a $1.3m business case to determine the future of the Pilbeam Theatre.

Rockhampton councillors have endorsed a $1.3m business case study investigating the future of the Pilbeam Theatre.

The case study will consider several possibilities, including building a new theatre to replace the ageing Pilbeam Theatre or fixing the issues with the 47-year-old building.

But there was an interesting amendment made to the proposed case study made during the meeting.

Councillors were originally set to decide on Tuesday, May 13 Rockhampton Regional Council whether to pursue” a study, which would include looking into the construction of a New Lyric Theatre on the Pilbeam Theatre’s carpark.

The Pilbeam Theatre is at the end of its serviceable life, according to a council officer’s report in the agenda.

Council officers had previously determined the best location for the proposed New Lyric Theatre, which would include a black box theatre, would be on the current Pilbeam Theatre’s carpark.

However, during the meeting Cr Cherie Rutherford queried whether the scope of the business case could be expanded to include the whole pre-existing site of the Pilbeam Theatre to give better options.

“If we are restricted to just the carpark and it gives us a poorer design… it may be the existing site (including the carpark) is a better site for a new complex,” she said.

Some of the young dancers who performed on the Pilbeam Theatre stage during the 2023 Rockhampton Dance Festival.

A council officer present at the meeting explained the reason behind restricting the focus solely to the carpark was so the community and theatre industry wouldn’t be affected by not having a theatre if it was decided, following the case study, that the New Lyric Theatre should be built.

Cr Elliot Hilse asked if a new theatre was constructed on the Pilbeam Theatre’s carpark, whether the pre-existing theatre would have to be knocked down for a new carpark.

A council officer said it was an issue to be considered by a business case.

The Pilbeam Theatre around the opening days in 1979.

“Part of the business case would be to look at the land around the site, if there is further acquisition or if there surplus land what to do dealing with that,” he said.

“Obviously that would become a very valuable bit of real estate where the existing Pilbeam Theatre (is)… it is the decision of the council to table in relation to whether that is carpark or future development.”

The amended motion, which comprised Cr Rutherford’s suggestion of expanding the original scope of the business case study, was eventually passed.

However Cr Edward Oram and Cr Shane Latcham opposed it.

Pilbeam Theatre car park may become the site of a New Lyrics Theatre

In a desire to avoid confusion, Cr Drew Wickerson said during the meeting that they were not approving a motion to build a theatre on the pre-existing Pilbeam Theatre site.

“We’re not approving to do it, we are approving to explore the business case which will then lead to our funding advocacy down the track,” Cr Drew Wickerson.

In an echo of the Deputy Mayor, Mayor Tony Williams said that the Pilbeam Theatre is not facing closure.

Councillors at Rockhampton Regional Council chambers on Bolsover St agonised over a business case study into the Pilbeam Theatre’s future.

“This is the start of a long process. What we have decided is to start to look at the possibilities and options available to us,” Mayor Williams said.

“This doesn’t mean that we will be redeveloping the site tomorrow nor that the Pilbeam will be shutting down.

“It’s about thinking and planning for the future and considering how and when we might want to progress this project.”

Originally published as $1.3m Pilbeam Theatre business case study to go ahead