Others state they would prefer a different location for the proposed venue.

Goulburn Mulwaree Council recently committed to purchase the former TAFE Illawarra campus in Bourke St.

The plan is to convert the old ceramics room behind the Goulburn Regional Conservatorium into the 300-seat Performing Arts Centre, which is estimated to cost $4 million to modify.

In a strongly-worded statement given to the Goulburn Post, Lieder president Jennifer Lamb said Lieder Theatre members felt locked out of consultation over the proposal.

“We at the Lieder Theatre – and I am sure a number of other community groups – are really frustrated that previous discussions and meetings among local performing arts groups have been ignored,” Ms Lamb said.

“These began when the Lilac Time Hall was sold in the late 1990s but petered out around 2010 because it felt like the proverbial dead horse.

“Most (if not all) of the people involved in those discussions have not been consulted in the development of this new proposal.”

She said she recognised the need for a Performing Arts Centre (PAC) to host large scale productions – particularly music and dance – but that the facility must meet the needs of the community.

“We are really concerned, therefore, that there seems to have been no community consultation – especially with key stakeholders in the local performing arts community – on the apparent decision to adapt an existing building into a PAC,” she said.

“Certainly there was a hastily called (just three days-notice) two-hour workshop on July 10 to discuss with community groups an architectural plan for the PAC.

“With just five community members attending, only three performing arts group were represented.

“In light of Council’s in-principle decision to purchase the Conservatorium building for a PAC, we feel the ‘community consultation’ workshop was presented with a fait accompli.

“To the best of our knowledge there had been no community consultation before the plans were drawn up.”

Sound technician from Whitenoise Pro Audio Jeff White, along with Ray Beaton, has been coordinating the sound engineering for the Goulburn Community of Public Schools (GCOPS) concerts at the Goulburn Workers Club for many years.

He said while the club had been magnificent with their generosity and support over the years, it was becoming clear that the event is fast outgrowing the auditorium in both size and lines of sight with the ever increasing of people involved.

“We desperately need an entertainment centre with raked seating and a stage large enough to accommodate the ever growing students participating,” Mr White said.

“Regarding the council contributing $4 million towards converting the ceramics room at the Regional Conservatorium into a suitable venue - this would do nothing to enhance the experience of GCOPS and similar sized events in Goulburn as the seating would be less than what we currently have.

“The GCOPS concerts would need at least an additional 2-3 days to cover all the acts and children involved.

“A better use of the money might be to buy back the old Lilac Time Hall room and convert it back to the way it was.

“It is my understanding that the stage, wings and backstage areas still remain intact.”

Mayor Geoff Kettle said there has been adequate consultation with the community.

“The issue of a Performing Arts Centre has been discussed by the community for many years, going right back to the sale of the Lilac Time Hall,” he said.

“The recent workshop (July 10) was called at the last minute because we had to get the funding application in.

“Nothing further happens on this proposal until we get the funding.”

A regular theatre-goer and spectator of the GCOPS concert series, Cr Kettle agreed the 300 seat space of the proposed PAC, in the old ceramics room at the regional Conservatorium, would be inadequate to stage future GCOPS Concerts.

When asked if the GCOPS concerts could go out to the Veolia Arena in future, Cr Kettle said only after some issues with the facility were sorted out.

“I have held initial discussions with GCOPS organisers and the Veolia Arena management and until such time as issues surrounding acoustics, improvements to seating and climate control are sorted out, they won’t be going out there,” Cr Kettle said.

“Ultimately though, it is up to GCOPS where they go. The PAC is designed for smaller productions than that.”

Meantime, Ms Lamb said the Lieder, in partnership with the Goulburn Group, had been investigating major renovations to its own iconic theatre in Goldsmith Street and already had a plan and model for a new theatre that is environmentally sustainable and reflects the needs of a 21st century theatre.

“While we have the plan, unfortunately we do not have the funds to realise the plan – but we certainly have the expertise to advise and inform designers of any performing arts venue,” she said.

In addition to the letter, Lieder Artistic Director Chrisjohn Hancock said no-one had contacted him about it and that Council seemed to have “made up their minds on it.”

“We want to help the Council get the best possible result - the plans have lots of flaws - and with our experience with theatre in this city - we feel a bit odd that no one has consulted us,” Mr Hancock said.

A recent letter to the Goulburn Post by Dr Rod McConnell pointed out that Griffith has a similar population to Goulburn yet “has a purpose built state of the art theatre with fixed tiered seating, an orchestra pit, a fly tower and importantly a stage big enough to accommodate all types of performances.”

Dr McConnell, a veteran of many theatrical and musical performances in the city, said the proposed conversion of the ceramics room at the Conservatorium would not allow many shows that Griffith currently gets to be staged because the stage is too small and there is no orchestra pit.

“While it would be better than nothing, it is a make-do solution,” he said.

“Its limitations will ultimately be frustrating and lead to potential underutilisation. Goulburn deserves better. Goulburn does not need another sports venue at this point in time. The Civic Centre refurbishment can also wait. Let’s instead spend more on a purpose built Performing Arts Centre.”