Goulburn investigates performing arts centre changes

But one of the suggested alterations - the omission of a fly tower - is already sparking controversy.

The fly tower is used to lower sets in one movement onto the stage. But a rigging and hanging system, which would not do this in one movement, or technology beaming a scene onto the back of the stage, will be investigated.

At Tuesday's council meeting, Cr Peter Walker said he was happy to let the process run and secure the costings. But his support came with a proviso.

"I feel if we don't include a fly tower and put value on it, we run the risk of diminishing the product as a whole. What's concerning me is what do we lose by not putting a couple items in?

"...We need to look at what savings can be made but more importantly, that those savings are not detrimental to the final product," he said.

The council is trying to rein in the cost after construction tenders came back at above the revised $18.5m estimate. Management is negotiating with preferred tenderer, Zauner Constructions, to reduce its confidential price to $16,265,000. Council costs of $2.235m would be added to this.

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The 400-seat venue, adaptively re-using the McDermott Centre in Auburn Street, has already achieved $2.1m cost savings through a value engineering process.

But now councillors want greater investigation of other possible changes. Aside from the fly tower, these are:

A report will come back to councillors at an expected July 30 extraordinary meeting detailing individual savings, the implications for the venue and the types of performances it can attract, along with a revised business case.

Operations director Matt O'Rourke said the new business case would also inform whether the fly tower remained.

The exercise will be undertaken in conjunction with an industry expert from funding partner, Create NSW.

PAC working party member Chris Gordon watched the debate from the gallery. He's taken a strong interest in recent discussion about cost trimming.

"I think the council meeting was positive," he said.

"I think Deputy Mayor Peter Walker articulated the desirability of having a fly tower and the need to itemise the savings so far to see if maybe they've already cut enough costs to bring the fly tower in, at or near budget," he said.

"The suggestion has been made that projection equipment can replace a fly tower, but the evidence is that all theatres that have them, and that's most of them, still use the fly tower in preference.

"Also, the operation of a fly tower helps train stage management skills that will help backstage crews advance their skills and take them elsewhere.

"The evidence I've heard is that theatres are still being built with fly towers and that even though projection equipment offers other possibilities, it hasn't replaced the use of fly towers where they currently exist, and new centres are not being built without them."

Lieder Theatre director Chrisjohn Hancock was also on the working party. Members discussed the potential changes with council management last week.

Mr Hancock said he wasn't an expert on fly towers but he was open to being convinced that a lower one could work.

"If we cause too many obstacles, there's the danger it (the PAC) may not happen at all," he said.

"To me, it's a really good option to use the McDermott Centre. The original design was wonderful but removing some items still leaves us with a pretty good building as long as there's good sound and lighting.

"...It doesn't bother me that the fly tower is not as high or the orchestra pit not as large."

He was, however, slightly "nervous" about putting 400 seats into the one space but again, was open to seeing a final design.

Mr Hancock said with limited resources at the Lieder he was forced to be creative.

"The important thing is to be as positive as possible and I encourage everyone to see the potential of this building," he said.

"Having a new performance space will be great for the town so I think we just need to bite the bullet."

General manager Warwick Bennett described the set screening technology as a more modern approach but said the council didn't want to compromise what the PAC was trying to achieve for the region.

If a fly tower was lowered, it would reduce the building's height and, with other potential design changes, necessitate a modified development application.

Mr Bennett said talks would occur with the Joint Regional Planning Panel, which determined the original DA, on whether the panel would need to decide the changes or if council planners could do so.

While six councillors supported seeking costings for the changes, Crs Margaret O'Neill and Sam Rowland voted against. Cr Alfie Walker was an apology for the meeting

Cr O'Neill said she had concerns.

'We need facts and figures and a business plan before we move forward," she said.

"...We're just cutting and pasting and I can't handle it. Every time this comes back to Council it's a different process."

She said nobody built a house with a five per cent contingency that the council was doing with the PAC.

Cr O'Neill also cited the Veolia Arena as an example in which crucial aspects, such as adequate amenities, were missed in the beginning and the council had to go back and include them.

But Cr Walker countered that this was likely well known at the time in order to cut costs, knowing full well it would have to be addressed at a later date.

"All I'm saying is let's get the costings and the business case so we know what's needed to fund it and get on and get it done," he said.

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