A $160,000 upgrade to the Portland Civic Hall will provide a more flexible community facility, attracting more commercial shows and creating an estimated five jobs during construction, the Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP said today.
Announcing a Brumby Government grant of $120,000, Ms Tierney said Portland Civic Hall was Glenelg Shire’s largest venue and was frequently used by community and commercial organisations, as well as for various Glenelg Shire Council activities.
“On average, 115 to 120 events a year are staged including cabaret fund-raising events, debutante balls, school concerts and speech nights, dance school concerts, Glenelg Shire Arts Program performances, Rotary Art Shows and Council events and meetings.
“The hall can also be used as an Emergency Control Centre if required, and the Supper Room is used often for smaller meetings and events.
“However, the hall needs storage space to store tiered seating, furniture and equipment,” Ms Tierney said.
The Portland Civic Hall Upgrade features an 11 metre x 10 metre storage annexe on the north side of the building, for:
o New transportable, retractable, tiered seating; and
o Existing equipment currently stored in the Civic Hall Supper Room. This includes 600 stackable chairs, trestle tables, mobile stairs and bass speakers.
“Construction of the storage annexe will mean all spaces at Portland Civic Hall, including the auditorium and Supper Room, are available for a wide range of performing arts activities and events.
“It will greatly improve the quality of facilities available to hirers and improve the hall’s flexibility and attractiveness to commercial hirers, particularly production companies touring events.
“It will increase the potential to stage income generating events for commercial, community and charitable purposes and enhance the hall’s long term financial viability,” Ms Tierney said.
The Brumby Government’s $120,000 funding (75 percent of the project’s cost) to Glenelg Shire Council is from its Small Towns Development Fund, helping Victoria’s smaller towns create jobs, drive economic growth and improve community infrastructure.
“This project complements previous State Government funding of $570,000 for the $1.3 million upgrade of various arts facilities in the Glenelg Shire including the Portland Arts Centre, the Portland Civic Hall, the Casterton Town Hall and the Heywood Community Hall,” Ms Tierney said.