Community proposal for outdoor stage in Jan Juc

A SMALL group of community members in the creative arts industry are pushing for a boutique outdoor stage to be built in Jan Juc’s Bob Pettit Reserve.

The Jan Juc Live committee, which is made up of five local friends – Paul Thompson, Mark Tinham, Perry Mills, Kerrie Williams and Phil Avery – have put together a proposal outlining their hopes to construct an outdoor facility to support the development of local talent.

Mr Thompson, who initiated the discussion, said the idea came about as a result of the growing success of Jan Juc performer Lucy O’Grady’s Christmas carols in the park.

“Over the last few years, Lucy’s ‘The Bonnie Upwelling Choir’ has seen this family community event grow to around the 300 mark. The problem is without a proper structure, you’re open to the wind which can ruin any event and has done.

Mr Thompson said the proposal has received a promising response from the community.

“The response has been overwhelming in favour of this proposal as surprisingly there isn’t an outdoor venue in Torquay or Jan Juc.

“The support we have from local singing groups, dance schools, kindergartens, poetry groups and musicians has been encouraging.”

In January, the Surf Coast Shire authorised Jan Juc Live to share the proposal publicly.

“This was a big positive step for us as there is a lot of hoops we have to jump through. We are still a long way from the first hole being dug,” Mr Thompson said.

On March 31, the group will be hosting a “listening post” between 1-4pm at the site on Sunset Strip to discuss the plan in detail.

To see the proposal in full, head to www.facebook.com/janjuclive.