Arts centre plan unlikely

It appears a groundswell of community opposition has sunk Bunbury City Council plans to build offices at the Stirling Street Arts Centre.

A proposal to relocate not-for-profit offices from Lotteries House in the CBD to the arts centre and Jaycee Park will be reviewed tonight by the council.

Council staff will recommend the plan for the arts centre is abandoned and alternative land and design options be investigated.

The plans were put on hold in December when the council decided to adjourn debate on the arts centre site for further negotiations with residents of Stirling Street.

Earlier this month, the centre’s user groups, proposed user groups and other stakeholders ruled the final position of the residents was that they were not prepared to negotiate for any office development of the site.

As a result, the council will be briefed on an alternative recommendation accepting the arts centre site is not an acceptable site for the not-for-profit development.

If the council agrees it will authorise chief executive officer Andrew Brien to investigate alternate land and design options. The development of alternative design options for Jaycee Park will also be reviewed by the council.

This will allow alternative plans to be developed which take into consideration the concerns expressed during public consultation.

Issues raised by the public include maintaining adequate public access to playground and open space areas, a review of traffic management options, the maximum retention of trees and landscaping and including the Goomburrup Aboriginal Corporation in the plan.

If supported, the Jaycee Park plan would be one step closer to progressing to tender for design.

Tonight’s meeting is open to the public.