Busselton Performing Arts and Convention Centre construction gets green light after council awards tender

After months of deferral and heated debate, construction of the controversial Busselton Performing Arts and Convention Centre has finally been given the green light. The City of Busselton on Wednesday voted 5-4 to award the $38 million construction tender to Broad Group Holdings to build the BPACC, to a mix of applause and heckling from the public gallery. Friends of the Busselton Performing Arts and Convention Centre spokeswoman Lisa Massey said she was thrilled construction was going ahead. “It really did go down to the wire, and we weren’t sure how the vote would go, but I am thrilled that the councillors have listened to the arts community and I really think this is going to be a great thing for Busselton,” she said. “It will grow our culture and really improve our identity to the rest of the State. “We can’t wait to see it go up in our main street and I think it will really complete the three-pronged strategy to bring more visitors to our town.” Business owner and Bay to Bay Action Group member Ray Mountney said while he did not agree building the BPACC was the best allocation of funds, it was time to respect the decision of the council. “We’ve always supported having a performing arts centre but the cost that went from an original figure of $20 million is an extraordinary amount of money,” he said. “The support we have to do now is provide the best outcomes through lobbying for additional funds through any of us that have access to talk to various bodies of government or private funders. I think it’s a disappointment that it’s going to be the amount of money that has been budgeted for it, but we move on and hopefully that will be justified with time.” During the council meeting, several residents voiced concern surrounding the cost of the project blowing out to $38m and called on the City to instead prioritise the construction of the Australian Underwater Discovery Centre. Busselton Mayor Grant Henley and several other councillors said it was “unfortunate” the two projects were perceived to be pitted against each other in an “us v them” scenario. “The Busselton community deserves a full suite of opportunities, and the BPACC will become a driver of our night-time economy, which has been lacking,” he said. Cr Phill Cronin described awarding the BPACC construction tender as an investment in the future of the city, while Deputy Mayor Paul Carter said there had been a “serious underinvestment in the arts and culture sector”. During a presentation to the council, Cinefest Oz chair Helen Shervington urged councillors to make a decision towards a “vibrant and prosperous future”. Busselton Repetory Club president John McCallum echoed Ms Shervington’s views, citing the social and cultural benefits of having a state-of-the-art performance centre. “Busselton is much more than sporting events, growers’ markets and microbreweries,” he said. An alternative motion put forward by Cr Anne Ryan to decline the tender and defer the BPACC project to 2023 was lost 4-5, prompting declarations of “shame” and “a sad day” from the gallery.