BEACH: Survey results show community split down the middle over new performing arts centre for Busselton

The Busselton community remains divided over plans for a performing arts hub as survey results show an almost 50:50 split in opinions. In June the City of Busselton Council opted to reject all tenders received for the Busselton Performing Arts and Convention Centre because of a $13 million cost blow-out and instead opened a community survey to allow the community to inform its decision making. The survey asked 4000 community members whether they would prefer to go ahead with the project as planned with the inflated cost, scale back the build at a reduced cost, or shelve the project entirely. With 2350 respondents, Catalyse Pty Ltd’s report showed “overall the community was divided about whether to proceed or not”. Support came in from 45 per cent of the random sample, with 34 per cent of those preferring to go ahead with construction as planned despite the $38m cost, while 11 per cent wanted a scaled- back version. Reasons for the support centred on the region’s growing population, economic benefits and being able to showcase the arts in the region. Rate increases, a lack of need, and money being better spent elsewhere were the key concerns for the 53 per cent of respondents wanting to shelve the project and return the $10.53m grant to the Federal Government. With the statistics now in, the council will be asked to vote next Wednesday on whether the City should proceed with the project and how much should be spent on its construction. Mayor Grant Henley said the results were surprising, and gave the council a lot to consider before the final decision. “Once (Catalyse) did some of the statistical validity, some of the 800 or so property owners who don’t reside in the City of Busselton that participated, their data wasn’t included, and once you took them out it swayed slightly into the negative,” he said. “They were over a third of ratepayers ... so if you’re talking about the people whose rates will be paying for this project, who don’t live in the City of Busselton and won’t be represented, that demographic was in favour of the project. “It’s important to remember that this isn’t a referendum, it’s not a 51 per cent pass mark, it’s a survey to inform council’s decision making.” Mr Henley noted the weekend’s CinefestOZ Film Festival was an indication of the growth and future of the arts in WA. “I think it’s worth noting we had this huge film festival in town over the weekend and some of the future exciting proposals in film and creative industries in WA are being supported by the State Government,” he said. “I think it’s a good industry to diversify into for the future of Busselton to be a major player in that developing sector.