It's taken a long time, but if councillors vote in favour of a motion, Gunnedah could soon have a cultural precinct masterplan.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A final altered masterplan has been tabled for Wednesday's council meeting, along with the many concerns locals raised during the submission period in February.
Gunnedah Shire Council summed up the concerns and the responses, such as locals wanting the library removed from the precinct, and moving the Visitor Information Centre (VIC) back to the South Street site.
These concerns were all taken into account for the revised plan.
Read also:
For example, the council is adamant the library will be in the plan and will remain as originally planned, but the location of the VIC will be decided in the future.
According to the council's director of corporate and community services, Colin Formann, the final plan was presented to the Cultural Precinct Advisory Group in October, where it was accepted by members.
"There was a general consensus from the group to support and proceed with the plan at this stage, with relevant consultation on finer details to be undertaken in the later stages of the project," Mr Formann wrote.
Councillors will also vote on whether to allocate $60,000 to undertake a cost benefit analysis of the project before further stages of the project commence.
Mr Formann said the review would cover at a minimum: justification of the proposal; assessment of the council's capacity to deliver the project; determine the priority of the project in relation to existing capital commitments and future works; consider the full range of project alternatives, financial implications and whole-of-life costs' and public consultation process.
If approved, the first stage of the plan will be to demolish the existing Smithurst Theatre, including the stage, change-rooms and kitchen. The commercial kitchen fixtures and fittings will be salvaged.
The second stage will focus on the new library, community function rooms, the VIC, precinct foyer and landscape.
The third will be the town hall, the fourth will be the bicentennial creative arts gallery, and the final stage will focus on the Civic Theatre.
The expected total cost of the works is set to be $14,635,026. This figure has yet to be funded by either the council or state or federal government bodies.