After an extensive engagement process and strongly guided by community feedback, the location of Dalby's future Cultural Centre has been decided, with Western Downs Regional Council progressing concept planning of new cultural facilities in Thomas Jack Park.
At its Ordinary Meeting of Council in Dalby on Thursday, Council resolved to proceed with concept planning for the integration of a visitor information centre, library, cinema, and art gallery in the park with a maximum development footprint of 2500m².
Council also announced it will fund a business case to assess the long-term feasibility, potential benefits, and exploration of a new secondary site location for a Performing Arts Centre in its 2025/26 budget.
Mayor Andrew Smith said the decision carefully considered community feedback around respecting the park's green space, minimising the building footprint, and retaining the natural environment of the parkland.
"By choosing to undertake a business case that will explore alternative locations for a potential future Performing Arts Centre, we've been able to significantly reduce the footprint required to deliver much needed cultural offerings for Dalby," Mayor Smith said.
"To further protect the park's green space, Council has also resolved the exclusion of Lots 3 and 6 to ensure we retain the nature and amenity of our beloved Thomas Jack Park.
"Community input and advice from expert urban designers was carefully considered when making this decision and we are confident that this outcome balances the diverse community perspectives shared with us through more than three years of engagement.
"We recognise the important role that Thomas Jack Park plays in our community, and it is Council's priority that there is minimal impact to the parkland. These new facilities will be respectfully embedded in the natural environment.
"By carefully integrating new cultural offerings within the park, we can work with this wonderful natural environment to create a vibrant social meeting place where we can spend time together, be entertained, share experiences, and enjoy arts and culture, all while admiring the beautiful grandeur of the park.
"The loss of the former cultural centre has been sorely felt in Dalby and this decision is a step towards restoring the facilities and regaining those lost cultural opportunities, and we thank the community for engaging with this project, sharing their visions and helping to guide a way forward."
As part of the progression of this important project, Council has appointed a design team who will work with the community in the coming months.
"Council is thrilled to announce that leading Queensland designer, OMA, has been appointed as the architect for the Cultural Centre project," Cr Smith said.
"OMA's reputation for creating spaces that resonate with the communities make them the perfect partner for this project, and we are confident they will deliver a thoughtful and innovative design for our new cultural facilities.
Council also endorsed an engagement plan for this project and will continue to partner with Fourfold Studios for community consultation through the concept design process.
"Council is committed to taking residents on the journey and will be launching new rounds of community engagement as the project progresses through the concept designing phase. During this time, OMA will be working closely with the community to ensure their needs, concerns and aspirations are reflected in the design.
"There will a number of exciting opportunities to engage both in person and online, which Council will communicate through multiple channels to ensure we can all work together to shape the future of the Cultural Centre facilities and the evolution of Thomas Jack Park."
