Brian O’Connor

1 BRIAN O’CONNOR Question 1: Based upon the annual visitation to the Tweed Regional Galley in NSW, the Mayor's plan for an iconic gallery for Noosa is likely to attract 70,000 to 80,000 visitors a year, making its location a crucial factor in contributing to its status as well as traffic congestion and other practical matters, so I ask whether Noosa Council is giving thought to following Tweed Shire’s lead in locating its very successful regional gallery at a stand-alone hinterland site easily accessible from Highway No.1 and can the Council provide an update as to the feasibility study now underway into siting, planning, design, budget, construction timing and other pertinent matters associated with a new Noosa Regional Gallery in support of a vibrant Noosa arts and cultural scene? Response by Kerri Contini, Director Community Services: Noosa Regional Gallery, which opened in 1989, is one of the oldest public galleries in Queensland. While it has served the community well in the past, a number of internal and external reviews have identified the current constraints of the existing facility and suggested an extension of the existing Gallery or the construction of a new Regional Gallery. The 2019 – 2023 Noosa Cultural Plan identified Noosa Regional Gallery as a priority focus area to explore the feasibility of a new signature Regional Gallery which better reflects contemporary audience expectations, spearheads cultural momentum, exploits cultural tourism opportunities and improves participation outcomes. In 2019 Council commenced the formal assessment of a potential major Gallery infrastructure project following the Queensland Government’s Project Assessment Framework. The audit of the existing Gallery to identify its strengths and gaps has been completed and we are now procuring an external consultant to undertake the next stage of this pre-feasibility work. This study will provide sufficient detail to enable Council to determine whether the investigation should proceed to a full feasibility study regarding the development of a new gallery. A location for a potential new gallery has yet to be determined and the pre-feasibility study will consider the risks and opportunities of possible sites. Considered sites may include maintaining a presence on the Noosa River, relocation to a Noosa hinterland site or relocating to one of Noosa’s business districts. The pre-feasibility study is due for completion by October 2020 Question 2: Whereas one of the objectives of the Noosa Cultural Strategy is to “Explore the potential of creating a Hinterland Heritage Brand, particularly focussing on Pomona and Cooroy” - a task which the Deputy Mayor Cr Frank Wilkie describes as “bringing together all the elements of heritage in the two towns in a coordinated way to provide resources for the community, such as websites etc.’’ - can the Council explain what’s happening to meet this outcome? Response by Kerri Contini, Director Community Services: The Noosa Cultural Plan is a key Council planning document that recognises the value of arts, culture and heritage to the Noosa community, and to Council itself. It outlines a range of goals and actions to be delivered across a five year period to secure a healthy future for the local cultural sector. The Cultural Plan is supported by an annual Action Plan which ensures progressive implementation of the Cultural Plan. The Action Plan for 2019/20 has focussed on the priority focus areas identified in the Cultural Plan. In relation to the History and Heritage theme this has included the following completed actions – creating a new Heritage Coordination role within Council, streamlining Council processes in relation to heritage matters, working with Noosa’s Kabi Kabi peoples to document and share their heritage, undertaking oral histories of key local residents and fast-tracking the digitisation of heritage materials. The History and Heritage theme contains the Action “Exploring the potential of creating a Hinterland Heritage Brand”. Council heritage staff are in regular consultation with hinterland heritage organisations and are supporting their priority actions from the plan. It is anticipated that work to consider a possible hinterland heritage brand will commence in the 2021/22 action plan.