Arts ambition: Feasibility study recommends $28 million development in Torquay

A FEASIBILITY study into Torquay’s long-awaited dedicated arts space has recommended an extensive knockdown/rebuild that will house several facilities in one $28-million development.
As well as a new arts facility, Australian National Surfing Museum and Visitor Information Centre, the project at the Surf City precinct in Beach Road will create a Torquay library at least four times larger than the existing building.
Councillors received the Torquay Cultural Facility and Library Feasibility Study at their meeting on Tuesday night.
This study follows the council’s earlier resolutions to turn the Surf Coast Sport and Recreation Centre (also at Surf City) into a community-led arts facility, and for this facility to be run by the now-established Multidisciplinary Arts Collective.
According to the study, Torquay’s 380sqm library is well below the projected benchmark of 1,600sqm needed to support the shire’s projected population of almost 46,000 in 2036.
Of the seven sites considered and the four different models proposed, the study recommends an entirely redeveloped cultural facility and library at Surf City as it “delivers the most benefits, is seen as the best capital investment and delivers an operating result that is very similar to the most affordable operating result”.
“This delivers four cultural facilities in one and has the opportunity to enhance the entire precinct and deliver benefits to other facilities, businesses and community groups.”
The study recommends the council now undertake several detailed design studies, including what facilities inside the development can be shared, traffic movements and parking, and community engagement requirements.
According to the report presented to councillors, the council will “need to attract financial contributions from other levels of government” to build the facility and will likely lobby local state and federal MPs ahead of their coming respective elections.
“This is the final community infrastructure project of scale in the Torquay Jan Juc Development Contributions Plan. Therefore, it is important to be prepared and proactive in the lead-up to 2022, which is when the state election will be held and it is likely the federal election will be in the same year.”
The council has made an allowance for operating expenditure in its Long Term Financial Plan starting at $700,000 and indexed across the life of the plan.