$140,000 performance space for Jan Juc

JAN Juc’s Bob Pettitt Reserve is another step closer to housing the area’s first outdoor performance space, with concept designs that celebrate its natural surrounds now available for viewing online.

Championed by Jan Juc Live, the project has received a $140,000 backing from the federal government and will see the installation of a permanent structure within a natural amphitheatre to stage small local performances.

Jan Juc Live member Paul Thompson said architect Ric Zen, together with environmental artist Mark Trinham, had been instrumental in bringing the group’s vision to life through these plans.

“We’re very pleased. They’re both local people who have had a big input in the design. It’s a combination of people who get all this happening, it’s not just a few people.

“Nicky Angus (Surf Coast Shire council’s community project development officer) has also helped a lot along the way. We’ve tried not to hurry things along but obviously we’ve been working pretty hard on getting it done this year.

“It’s great that the council now see fit to go public with the project.”

Mr Thompson said the initiative couldn’t have come together if it wasn’t for the support of the community members who also saw a need for such a venue.

“The main thing is that it’s come together from the community for the community – that’s the strength of it.

“We can all see the need for it, and there’s lots of different groups in the community who are very excited about it.

“It’s not a rock ‘n roll venue by any means. We’re going to have poetry, plays, performances; there’s a whole range of different groups to entertain.”

Surf Coast Shire mayor Rose Hodge thanked Jan Juc Live members for their role in advocating for the project and noted the reserve was a “big part of community life” on the Surf Coast.

“The new outdoor performance space is designed to allow our community to make more use of the reserve while maintaining everything locals love about it, especially its natural beauty.”

The project has been fully funded by the Australian government and is being delivered in partnership with the Jan Juc community and the Surf Coast Shire council.

To view the plans, head to surfcoast.vic.gov.au/yoursay.

People can also submit any questions or comments to council by May 22 via the website.

The space will be launched through an opening day later this year.