Hopes for theatre overhaul

LEADERS of a push for a major redevelopment of the J.B. Osborne Theatre in Kangaroo Flat are confident the ambitious plan will happen, following the success of a public petition.

The petition spearheaded by the Kangaroo Flat Community Enterprise closed on June 30 and attracted 1025 signatures.

That’s enough, according to KFCE president Geoff Bowyer, to indicate widespread community support for the overhaul.

The theatre has had minimal maintenance as community use has steadily declined, and it has fallen into disrepair with leaks, rotting floors and ceilings, no heating and dangerous electrical systems.

The KFCE wants to return the building to a condition where it can be used as a creative, multi-purpose arts venue for schools, community groups and residents.

“We went through an extensive community engagement process; we connected with a lot of community groups, the school was heavily involved; all the sporting groups supported us,” Mr Bowyer said.

“We were thrilled to get 1025 signatures and we think that sends a very strong message that there’s a widespread, diverse group of people in our community who think it’s a theatre worth restoring.”

The 382-seat theatre, administered by Crusoe College and on school land, was opened in 1978.

It was used as a theatre space by schools and hired by community groups for performances and other events, but was declared redundant in 2010 when a black box theatre was incorporated into the new Crusoe College.

The school still makes some use of it. Mr Bowyer said college staff had hired architects to prepare possible designs for the refurbishment and quantity surveyors would be engaged to perform a costing, after which a formal funding application would be prepared for submission to the Department of Education.

“Once that goes in we will start separate applications to the commonwealth and the state to seek funding for the proposal,” he said.

Mr Bowyer said the redevelopment could cost more than $7 million.

Facilities for use not only by the school, but also for various community purposes, were both prerequisites for Department of Education approval, he said.

Mr Bowyer said City of Greater Bendigo councillors had indicated personal support for the project, while local members of parliament had also expressed interest.