Townsville-Gurambillbarra needs Cultural Infrastructure AND Reef HQ
Response from Australian Festival of Chamber Music Executive Director, Ricardo Peach
STATUS: There is currently no purpose-built Concert Hall with additional black theatre facilities anywhere north of Brisbane in the ENTIRE north of Australia.
Townsville-Gurambilbarra, as the centre of a major creative and cultural region and a gateway to northern Australia more broadly (and, indeed, to the wider Indo-Pacific) is the ideal location for the creation of such a facility. It was almost happening, until now.
****There will be a media opportunity TOMORROW Friday 23 August at 9am in front of the Ville-Casino in Townsville-Gurambilbarra. Community members, artists, cultural workers and patrons, along with concerned supporters of Reef HQ, which has now been put in a difficult situation, have all been invited.
HERE'S THE STORY: Funding of $150million was already conditionally on the table towards the realisation of the project in Townsville-Gurambilbarra. This consisted of:
- $100million designated towards the project by the Federal Government in September 2021, as a result of concerted lobbying, for a "state-of-the-art" Concert Hall and theatre.
- $50million announced by the Queensland Government in its 2023-2024 budget, to be added to the $100million earmarked by the Federal Government, contingent upon the Townsville City Council matching the Queensland Government's contribution (so investment by council of $50million).
Of the $100million committed by the Federal Government, $2million was designated to fund an in-depth Case and Scoping Study and a tender for this Study was awarded by the relevant Federal Government Department in April 2022. It is understood that the Study has been completed and includes concept designs for a 1000-seat Concert Hall and an adjacent 300-400 seat Theatre. Where is that Business Case Study?
Now, at a specially convened meeting of Townsville Council held behind closed doors last Friday, 16 August 2024, the Townsville City Council resolved NOT to proceed with the Concert Hall and stated that, based on the Council's Long-Term Financial Plan, their required contribution of approximately $50 million would not be available in the foreseeable future.
The motion was moved by the Mayor, Cr Troy Thompson – this despite the fact that the Mayor had publicly stated and continues to state even now - that he supports the initiative for a purpose-built Concert Hall.
The Mayor advised that the $100 million committed by the Federal Government would be reallocated towards refurbishment of Reef HQ.
"We don't want arts and culture used as the decoy throughout this process by Council, which clearly had no intention of actually addressing the lack of support for the arts community of Townsville-Gurambilbarra. The vibrancy of the cultural scene in Townsville-Gurambilbarra is very much despite the Council, rather than because of it, but it cannot continue in the current climate without genuine significant Council support."
The North Queensland arts community is up in arms about this decision. The concert hall and theatre project has been a long-standing initiative for some 40 years and there was optimism that it would be finally proceeding.
There are so many displaced cultural organisations right now. The last 15 years have seen the loss of theatre companies, JCU performing and visual arts and companies without venue and homes.
A leading stakeholder is the Australian Festival of Chamber Music (AFCM), which has called Townsville-Gurambilbarra its home for 34 years. Each year the AFCM attracts musicians from around the world to perform in Townsville. Across 10 days annually in July, it presents over 30 concerts and special events, attracting visitors from around Australia and internationally, injecting over $9million towards the region.
However, the missing link for many organisations in this city has been a quality acoustic venue for the internationally renowned musicians to perform in. The Civic Theatre is heavily booked throughout the year and there is a need for additional performing arts venues to service existing and anticipated future requirements.
AFCM is extremely disappointed by the Council's decision and the manner in which it has been arrived at.
We haven't been provided with a copy of the business case study that was commissioned and paid for out of Federal Government funds; nor were we afforded the opportunity to present to Council and to discuss with them any modifications that might appropriately be made so as to enhance the affordability of the proposed development without jeopardising quality and suitability for purpose.
Don't get me wrong - we want to see Reef HQ supported, just not at the expense of a very desperate arts community, given the critically needed cultural infrastructure for Townsville-Gurambilbarra such as a Concert Hall and Theatre. We do not want one deserving community pitted against another.
We also have a number of unanswered questions we need addressed:
- Why are we not able to see a copy of the Concert Hall Business Case and Scoping Study?
- Why has the sector not been consulted to explore how this new infrastructure could be made financially feasible? Especially given that other quality venues such as the 1400-seater Snow Concert Hall in Canberra on the grounds of Canberra Grammar school only cost $20million in 2022 – and we had been allocated $98 million.
#Givebackthemoney
Australian Festival of Chamber Music
Townsville-Gurambilbarra, North Queensland - AFCM 2025 starts Friday 25 July
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AFCM principal partners include Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and Arts Queensland, and Townsville City Council. The Australian Festival of Chamber Music is supported by the Queensland Government, through Tourism and Events Queensland. The Queensland Government supports the Australian Festival of Chamber Music (AFCM) through Arts Queensland.
