AFTER two years of hard work from Moree Plains Shire councillors and staff, the proposal of a cinema in Moree has been accepted, providing the funding can be sought.
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MPSC mayor, Katrina Humphries, said she did not want to get the community’s hopes up as the funding first had to be found before the concept was set in stone.
“I just have huge issues getting peoples hopes up and when the budget goes out for public comment I would think there will be a lot of input, as we are going to have to go without something possibly to fund it, but we simply must go through the budget process first,” she said.
The Cinema Working Group along with economic development officer Mark Connolly and his team have created the concept of an entertainment precinct located at the Moree Memorial Hall.
Councillor James Von Drehnen opened the debate by acknowledging the council staff who sought answers and information for councillors.
“There is a clear indication from the community that they have a desire to have a cinema in our community. The challenge is the viability of a cinema in our town, how we are going to fund it and how the ongoing costs are going to implicate our council, and can we in actual fact, afford that?” Cr Von Drehnen said.
“The committee has been working on this now for over two years and the one thing we have identified is how we can’t have a cinema and, there are not too many ways that we can.
“However, the plan that has been put together offers an opportunity but the budget considerations are going to be long and difficult. What we’re asking here is not to create an expectation in the community that this is going to happen, and the challenge here is how we’re going to pay for it.
“We all know how important it is but it’s all about getting it on the table for this year’s budgetary process so we can further the debate,” he said.
The concept will see a complete re-vamp of the town and banquet halls.
There will be two cinema/function areas, space for a dining area, kitchen and bar facilities, two stages, and much more.
Councillor Mick Cikota said the concept was not “just a cinema” but an entertainment precinct.
“Were going to bring shows, we’re going to have theatre… You know we kept on saying the cinema bit but let’s think about the entertainment side of things. We haven’t spent a lot of money on the hall in the past 10 years so let’s spend some decent amount of money to get more use out of the facility,” Cr Cikota said.
The council has to spend over $276,000 each year for statutory and capital building upgrades, but with the full entertainment precinct concept the council would have to spend over $660,000 per annum.
“In 1922 the community gave us the town hall and it was one of the most beautiful memorial halls probably in the whole of NSW. Councils over many years have not kept their halls up to date and have lost them. So we have to already do certain things to update the building,” Councillor, John Tramby said.
“This is the idea of making this town fit for the future,” he said.
Councillor Claudia Gall said although it was a stunning concept, the council could not afford it.
“As a community member I would say yes please… But as a community member I have to give up something because we do not have the ready cash. This is only going to be considered in the budget process. The community cannot be disillusioned by the concept,” she said.
The concept will be further discussed at the next Moree Plains Shire Council budgetary consideration meeting.