Replace the Hills Centre Home Page
Important Information
Have your say with the Hills cultural plan just released. Like I have said from the beginning, council are planning to build a multi-purpose centre at the showground with NO racked seating. The statistics they have used are old and do not reflect the status of the Hills Centre in 2012-13.
http://www.thehills.nsw.gov.au/DownloadDocument.ashx?DocumentID=9907
Below are three files. First is a statement on the Hills Centre and our fight to keep it. Second is the Hills Centre Booklet and third is a booklet with all the donors of the Hills Centre. These donors deserve to get their money back or a new centre built as the donations were made in perpetuity.
Have your say with the Hills cultural plan just released. Like I have said from the beginning, council are planning to build a multi-purpose centre at the showground with NO racked seating. The statistics they have used are old and do not reflect the status of the Hills Centre in 2012-13.
http://www.thehills.nsw.gov.au/DownloadDocument.ashx?DocumentID=9907
Below are three files. First is a statement on the Hills Centre and our fight to keep it. Second is the Hills Centre Booklet and third is a booklet with all the donors of the Hills Centre. These donors deserve to get their money back or a new centre built as the donations were made in perpetuity.
hill_centre_info.pdf | |
File Size: | 633 kb |
File Type: |
hills_centre_booklet.pdf | |
File Size: | 4205 kb |
File Type: |
hills_centre_thank_donors.pdf | |
File Size: | 747 kb |
File Type: |
News on the North West Rail
I hope it is all worth it. Article in SMH 30/1/2014.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/warnings-on-northwest-rail-link-plan-ignored-20140129-31mvw.html
Sorry to say the demolition has gone beyond repair. We told by Domininc Perrottet it would need an influx of funds to stop it. We came up with $10 million for a 20 year lease but they said it was too late.
Focus is now on building a new performing arts theatre to hold 2,000 people.
Please respond to the focus groups and get involved.
EMAIL Hon. Brad Hazzard (Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, and Minister Assisting the Premier on Infrastructure)
Email Brad Hazard and let him know how vital a performing arts centre is for the future of the area. Especially let him know if your group cannot have performances any more because of the demolition.
The Hon. Brad Hazzard, MP
(02) 9228 5258
[email protected]
Contact Hon. Adrian PICCOLI (Minister for Education)
Let him know your schools uses it.
(02) 9228 5261
[email protected]
WE ARE NOT SAYING NO TO THE RAIL LINK, JUST TO THE DEMOLITION
There is plenty of room for the station, the Hills Centre and the showground. A North West rail representative has said it was possible.
More information available here.
The Hills Centre is NOT going to be replaced. Hills Shire Council told us they would not build another theatre of its kind ever again, nothing that will hold over 1,000 people. This centre could have been refurbished to look "as new".
****Luke Foley (labour) has put a motion to put to Parliament (see link)
Facts
New ** Carmel Tebbutt - MP Shadow Minister For Education and Training
“Thank you for your email regarding the multiple uses of the Hills Centre and the effect that its demolition would have on local schools.
I have made representations on your behalf to the Minister for Transport, the Hon Gladys Berejiklian MP, to request her consideration of the matters you have raised and the need for a performing arts centre for local schools.”
When I asked for a copy of the spreadsheet with the costing of the Hills Centre Mark Stanton gave this reply "It has been estimated that the total cost of operating the Hills Centre since its inception is approximately $20 million rather than costing $1 million a year. This includes both capital expenditure as well as operating subsidy. There is no specific spreadsheet detailing the costs you have requested....Enquiries regarding future activities in relation to the Hills Centre should be directed to the North West Rail Project." General Manager Dave Walker said he would send me a copy in about 3 weeks...still waiting. I believe council did spend some money in capital expenditure in the first few years of opening.
Hills Shire Council will spend $10.5 million on Parks and Gardens in 2013-14.
http://www.thehills.nsw.gov.au/IgnitionSuite/uploads/docs/Part%204%20Operational%20Plan%202013%20-%202014[1].pdf
Spend $693,000 on Library
Spend $462,000 on Amenities and sports facilities
Spend $261,000 on Fire Stations
Spend $261,000 on Swimming Pool
Why all the fuss about how much the Hills Centre is costing? Isn't it providing a service to the community as well, considering 52% of Hills residents think that Recreation/Performing Arts Centre are Important or Very important?http://www.thehills.nsw.gov.au/IgnitionSuite/uploads/docs/The%20Hills%20Shire%20Council%20%20Community%20Survey%202012%20-%202013.pdf
I hope it is all worth it. Article in SMH 30/1/2014.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/warnings-on-northwest-rail-link-plan-ignored-20140129-31mvw.html
Sorry to say the demolition has gone beyond repair. We told by Domininc Perrottet it would need an influx of funds to stop it. We came up with $10 million for a 20 year lease but they said it was too late.
Focus is now on building a new performing arts theatre to hold 2,000 people.
Please respond to the focus groups and get involved.
EMAIL Hon. Brad Hazzard (Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, and Minister Assisting the Premier on Infrastructure)
Email Brad Hazard and let him know how vital a performing arts centre is for the future of the area. Especially let him know if your group cannot have performances any more because of the demolition.
The Hon. Brad Hazzard, MP
(02) 9228 5258
[email protected]
Contact Hon. Adrian PICCOLI (Minister for Education)
Let him know your schools uses it.
(02) 9228 5261
[email protected]
WE ARE NOT SAYING NO TO THE RAIL LINK, JUST TO THE DEMOLITION
There is plenty of room for the station, the Hills Centre and the showground. A North West rail representative has said it was possible.
More information available here.
The Hills Centre is NOT going to be replaced. Hills Shire Council told us they would not build another theatre of its kind ever again, nothing that will hold over 1,000 people. This centre could have been refurbished to look "as new".
****Luke Foley (labour) has put a motion to put to Parliament (see link)
Facts
- 120,000 people use the Hills Centre every year. (compared to 150,000 patrons of Sydney Theatre)
- Has 1678 seats, next biggest event place in the Hills is 500 seats, without raked seating. (Sydney Opera House Opera Theatre has 1500 seats.)
- Building cost 24 million to build
- Would cost approximately 50 - 70 million plus to replace.
- It is structurally sound according to engineers and the former foreman of the building
- People need to book 1-2 years in advance for bookings.
- It is used by lots of schools and community groups.
- For the last 3 years previous incumbents are payed 100,000 + 5% a year to council.
- Functions and attendances have doubled in this time.
- Used by many different cultural groups
- This is the only theatre of its kind in Australia.
- Council have said they will not replace it. They are doing a study into cultural and performing arts needs in 2014.
New ** Carmel Tebbutt - MP Shadow Minister For Education and Training
“Thank you for your email regarding the multiple uses of the Hills Centre and the effect that its demolition would have on local schools.
I have made representations on your behalf to the Minister for Transport, the Hon Gladys Berejiklian MP, to request her consideration of the matters you have raised and the need for a performing arts centre for local schools.”
When I asked for a copy of the spreadsheet with the costing of the Hills Centre Mark Stanton gave this reply "It has been estimated that the total cost of operating the Hills Centre since its inception is approximately $20 million rather than costing $1 million a year. This includes both capital expenditure as well as operating subsidy. There is no specific spreadsheet detailing the costs you have requested....Enquiries regarding future activities in relation to the Hills Centre should be directed to the North West Rail Project." General Manager Dave Walker said he would send me a copy in about 3 weeks...still waiting. I believe council did spend some money in capital expenditure in the first few years of opening.
Hills Shire Council will spend $10.5 million on Parks and Gardens in 2013-14.
http://www.thehills.nsw.gov.au/IgnitionSuite/uploads/docs/Part%204%20Operational%20Plan%202013%20-%202014[1].pdf
Spend $693,000 on Library
Spend $462,000 on Amenities and sports facilities
Spend $261,000 on Fire Stations
Spend $261,000 on Swimming Pool
Why all the fuss about how much the Hills Centre is costing? Isn't it providing a service to the community as well, considering 52% of Hills residents think that Recreation/Performing Arts Centre are Important or Very important?http://www.thehills.nsw.gov.au/IgnitionSuite/uploads/docs/The%20Hills%20Shire%20Council%20%20Community%20Survey%202012%20-%202013.pdf