The Lieder Theatre certainly doesn’t think so and tell us in no uncertain terms in today’s story.

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 says.

Other community members have been telling us their views in relation to Council’s recent push to place the facility in the old ceramics room behind the Goulburn Regional Conservatorium.

One thing they are all certain about is that there is a genuine need for a new PAC in the city and recent history bears them out - with plays and performances, including this year’s Eisteddfod trying to fit into just about any venue that will take them.

The Goulburn Community of Schools Concerts (GCOPS) are getting so big that they have to be staged over four nights in the one venue - the Goulburn Workers Club.

Then there is the Veolia Arena, which even Mayor Geoff Kettle acknowledges in today’s Goulburn Post is inadequate in terms of staging musical performances - until issues with seating, acoustics and climate control are sorted out.

We think the whole idea of building a new PAC in the old ceramics room has been rushed through to meet a funding deadline.

And if Council misses out on funding will the whole idea just go off the boil again for another 15 years?

The other issue here is should Council be looking at double dipping into ratepayers’ reserves to bring the Veolia Arena up to scratch as a venue while also actively pursuing another PAC site?

A notable omission from the new working parties structure by the council was a PAC Working Party.

Certainly there needs to be one. It seems like there would certainly be enough people wanting to join that working party, unlike the working parties that struggle to attract any interest at all.