Venues Update: Western Sydney theatre, QLD budget investment, plus more

SYDNEY 2,000-SEAT THEATRE SET FOR DECEMBER OPENING

Western Sydney’s new 2,000-seat Coliseum Theatre in the West HQ precinct in Rooty Hill is set for a December 21 opening.

A Keith Urban performance will officially christen the $100 million venue, while the launch program includes Tina Arena, John Butler and Barry Humphries as Dame Edna Everage.

The Coliseum has struck a three-year partnership with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

QUEENSLAND BUDGET HELPS VENUES

This week’s Queensland state budget’s investment in the arts included funding for a number of venues.

The new theatre at Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) in Brisbane has $5.2 million allocated in 2019-20 as part of the overall $125 million for the 2022-due project.

$6 million is allocated via the Arts Infrastructure Investment Fund for arts and cultural facilities, including the Judith Wright Centre and the Cairns Centre of Contemporary Arts.

The Palaszczuk government is exploring the development of a First Nations Cultural Centre in Brisbane with funding of $2 million over two years to develop an options assessment as the first step.

$35 million goes for an upgrade of the Brisbane Cricket Ground – the Gabba.

The Palaszczuk government continued various funding programs including the Queensland Arts Showcase Program, the Backing Indigenous Arts initiatives, and Playing Queensland Fund.

GREENS PUSH FOR NEW CANBERRA ENTERTAINMENT PRECINCT

The ACT Greens are pushing for Canberra’s Exhibition Park or EPIC – home of countless events including the National Folk Festival –  to be designated an entertainment precinct.

This comes as The ACT’s Planning Directorate is currently conducting investigations into the development of the area, and which could see housing being green-lighted.

In an opinion piece in RiotACT, Shane Rattenbury argued that before that happens, EPIC become an entertainment precinct.

“Entertainment precincts help to protect the long-term future of the music and entertainment industry without exposing residents or businesses to unreasonable or unexpected levels of noise,” he wrote.

“Precinct laws mean that the onus is on new developments to incorporate extensive noise insulation—not on music venues to turn down their volumes when residential development is built nearby.”

THE LOFT SHUTS DOORS

After nearly 20 years of cultivating original music, The Loft in Warrnambool in country Victoria shut its doors.

The final gig was on June 9 with the 14-hour three-stage Arockalypse festival showcasing local talent.

FORMER MAD COW EMPLOYEE JAILED

Chris Gregory, 35, former assistant manager of Townsville’s Mad Cow nightclub was jailed for six years for stealing $300,000 from the business.

NEW HOME FOR NIGHTQUARTER

As popular Gold Coast live music venue and night market, the NightQuarter looks for a new home, a Gold Coast MP has put forward a suggestion.

Why not put it in the former home, now vacant, of the Big Brother house?