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TPAC
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24.01.2022 "... getting us nowhere at considerable expense."
23.01.2022 More letters to the Bulletin this week. It is obvious that public sentiment supports an expansion and the building of suitable facilities on the Civic Theatre (Reid Park) site.
20.01.2022 Stage One is great. Stage Two was due in 1983... so we seem to be running a little late...
20.01.2022 The Eisteddfod is about to start - severely impaired by the lack of venues in our city...
19.01.2022 Another day & another change of plans from the council... After rejecting TPAC and the Hive, the obvious has been recognised: Central Park is not a suitable location to build a Concert Hall, so both the other locations are again being considered. So where to from here? TPAC is still the only logical and cost effective solution on the table: a concept developed by the local arts community that caters for local and touring acts alike. Council is now re-considering the option of the Civic Theatre site for a Concert Hall - we hope that they will recognise the benefit of the whole TPAC design, which includes a Concert Hall and much more.
18.01.2022 Well, this looks like it could be posit... WAIT... WHAT?!? The Hive COULD include a hotel, a 1000-seat concert hall, and a long list of other things that MAY OR MAY NOT be included... but the required 800 car parks are not optional... All of this is described in this article that makes it sound like it is ready to go ahead. But here's the thing: facilities like a concert hall or hotel are NOT things you simply add or remove from designs ~ they are BIG, and would dominate any ...building project ~ which of course means that there can be no fixed plan at this time. You need to know what you are building before you start... This also seems like a confusing concept when you consider that Council is currently contemplating the merits of a concert hall (and multi-storey car park) being built on the Dean St Carpark site - www.townsville.qld.gov.au/2020 The only certainty we can take from this article is that the Hive development would require a huge parking structure, and that Council has approved structures "as high as 20 storeys". What we really need right now is some clarity about what would be best for performing arts in Townsville. We DON'T need yet more unrealistic and unsuitable ideas for venues that simply won't get built. Rather than trying to slot a concert hall into a commercial venture, we consider that TPAC is still the best option for the development of a Performing Arts Centre (including a concert hall). It would be cheaper to build, have all the benefits that come from shared facilities, and not require the building of a multi-storey car park. www.tpac.net.au
17.01.2022 A 7 News article on TPAC - 18/10/2018. If you'd like to view the detailed TPAC plans (along with costings), they can be downloaded from the following link: http://townsvillemusic.org.au/custombanners/TPACDocument.pdf
15.01.2022 Currently the TPAC steering group are basically doing NOTHING. It may seem a strange approach, but there is only so much that can be done to promote this concept... and we've essentially done all that we can at this time. We think the Reid Park (Civic Theatre) site is the perfect location to build a Performing Arts Centre. Such a centre would INCLUDE a Concert Hall (as the Council has been making much noise about) but ALSO include a range of other facilities that are so badly... needed. This is the ONLY site near the CBD with adequate space for parking without the need for a multi-storey car park to be built. Since 2013, the Council has spent a large amount of money on consultants and plans for a Concert Hall in a variety of possible locations. In every case the final "vision" has been tripped up by being either impractical or financially unviable. The "Hive" project keeps coming back... but how many times has that been rejected before (for the same reasons each time)? So - we are doing nothing. Bashing our heads against a wall doesn't help when faced by procrastination and lack of action from the Council. We want more than just a Concert Hall, and we especially don’t want a stand-alone structure that is so much more expensive to operate... but after the last 6 years and numerous expensive consultations and reports they are STILL no closer to constructing ANYTHING. We are beginning to think that they don't actually want to invest in Arts Infrastructure at all... Oh... and the stadium project has just blown out by an ADDITIONAL $50M... sheesh! http://www.tpac.net.au
14.01.2022 The Bulletin... Pg 2... Tuesday...
14.01.2022 2 articles and 2 letters - all pointing out that Reid Park is still the best option for an expanded Performing Arts Centre, and dismissing Central Park as an unviable option.
13.01.2022 Here is a formal statement from the Council which STILL places the importance of benefitting a few restauranteurs over considerations of the best outcome for the arts. They still fail to recognise that Stage One of TPAC has already been built, and that completing the project is far and away the best option for performing arts.
13.01.2022 In November 2017, Simon McConnell delivered a response to the Concert Hall Feasibility Study (conducted by Jennifer Bott AO). That response can be downloaded by clicking the following link: http://townsvillemusic.org.au/custombanners/BottResponse.pdf The original report by Jennifer Bott AO can be found here: http://townsvillemusic.org.au/custombanners/Bott.pdf
12.01.2022 So TEL wants $46M from the Federal Budget "to fund the master plan, feasibility, design then delivery of the 800-100 [seat] Townsville Concert Hall". That's nice... but where are you going to put it? And will that figure include a multi-storey carpark? We still think that TPAC - adding to the Civic Theatre site - is the best option as it delivers MORE facilities for a comparable outlay... and there's plenty of space for more parking.
12.01.2022 Still the best idea... we are still short of suitable venues.
10.01.2022 There is a lot of talk at the moment about the Council's (un-funded) plan to build a stand-alone Concert Hall and multi-storey carpark on the Dean Carpark site. We still think TPAC (on the current Civic Theatre site) is better... and the reason is a no-brainer. We believe that TPAC can be built for the same or less $ than a Concert Hall and Multi-storey Carpark. Within TPAC you would get:... An 800 seat Concert Hall A 200 seat Drama Theatre A 2000 Seat Outdoor Amphitheatre The existing 950 seat Civic Theatre A large (separable) foyer with stage area Improved catering facilities Oh... and plenty of parking... space which is already there and doesn't require a new construction. You also get the added benefit of cheaper running costs ~ something that always occurs when facilities are grouped rather than separated. Make no mistake - the Council doesn't have the $ to build the stand-alone Concert Hall ~ they have to rely on State and Federal funding. This is why it is so important that rate-payers and workers understand what their tax dollars may be used for... A Concert Hall... or a Concert Hall and MUCH MORE. TPAC ~ It just makes sense. www.tpac.net.au *Click LIKE on our page for regular updates*
09.01.2022 Another fine article which makes some excellent points.
09.01.2022 Why do we feel like we are missing out? Could it be because we ARE? We need TPAC more than ever...
05.01.2022 In latest news: There are rumours of the Hive project being reconsidered (again). It was not cost effective the last few times and we can't see how it would be again. The Dean St Carpark is STILL the "other' option... and it's still a stupid location and not cost effective.... TPAC remains the only sensible option.
02.01.2022 Deary me... TPAC was initially rejected due to being outside the PDA (priority development area), and the Hive was considered not suitable at all. So now (after realising the land you build on needs to be bigger than the building itself)... we are back to the Civic Theatre site (which has always been suitable), the Hive (which is still unsuitable), and a third (new) option of Dean Street Carpark (unsuitable, more expensive to build, AND still outside the PDA). When will common sense prevail?
01.01.2022 "could include..."
