| Council debates venue costs |
A REVIEW presented to City of Greater Bendigo councillors on Wednesday night revealed the cost of the city's prestigious buildings, with the Bendigo Art Gallery going well over budget.
The "snapshot of operations" report showed the Bendigo Art Gallery's net cost last financial year was $2.15 million - $500,000 more than budgeted.
It also revealed the net cost for The Capital in 2013-14 was $1.25 million, 2.5 per cent under budget, as well as a decrease in performances and performance attendences. However, there was a significant increase of 12,000 attendees to non-performance events, with a record total attendance of 78,000 for the year.
Cr Helen Leach spoke out about the expense of The Capital and Bendigo Art Gallery, saying the facilities were under-utilised by ratepayers who were footing most of the bill.
Director Stan Liacos says 20 per cent of all visitors to the paid art exhibitions were local, with 80 per cent coming from other areas.
Cr Leach said it was great to see increasing attendance numbers at The Capital but "it was a shame that it wasn't a profitable business".
She also expressed concern that the art gallery was expensive for ratepayers, who mostly weren't benefiting from the venue. "I don't think it's a community facility that has wide appeal, no matter how beautiful it is".
But Cr Rod Fyffe said the ratepayers benefited from the provision of the services and argued the continual visitors stimulated the Bendigo economy and created local jobs. In other news, councillors unanimously adopted several future plans, including the Kangaroo Flat Dower Park draft master plan and the final Bendigo Stadium proposal.
The Heathcote Supermarket expansion was also given the tick of approval. The land at Chauncey Street and Playne Street, will be rezoned to commercial one to make way for an expanded building.
Councillors also moved to allow free but time limited curbside parking in the Bendigo CBD on weekends, agreeing to keep the Hargreaves multi-storey carpark closed on Sunday.
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