Goulburn Mulwaree Council has lodged the development application for the much anticipated venue. The plan seeks to convert the McDermott Centre at 163 Auburn Street into a 400-seat multi-level facility.

It includes a raised stage, an orchestra pit, fly tower, foyer, storage and performance change areas. A new entry will be created off Post Office Lane for disabled access.

The proposal, designed by Brewster Hjorth architects, also involves partial demolition of rear 1936 additions to the 1887 EC Manfred-designed building.

The council is racing to meet deadlines associated with a $1 million National Stronger Regions grant for the project.

The venue’s total value – $10.74 million – means that the Joint Southern Regional Planning Panel will decide the DA.

A council spokesman anticipated this would happen in March, allowing federal funding targets to be met. However the SRPP has not set any scheduled meetings. Its secretariat told The Post the DA had not been registered with it but this could be in the process.

DA documentation also stated that the council needed the Department of Industry’s consent to lodge the plan. Permission was not apparent in documents placed on public exhibition.

However council staff said this this was a “technicality” and an application had been lodged.

“The site is crown land and the legislation requires approval from the Department prior to consent being granted,” a council spokesman said.

“The DA documentation is being reviewed at the moment with confirmation expected in the next couple of weeks given the time of year. “

The Department confirmed it had received the council’s application on January 13 for the DA, which was lodged on December 23, 2016.

“The Department understands this is a priority for the council and is working to provide a response as soon as possible,” a spokesman said. 

Meantime, the council will seek to leapfrog its own planning policy regarding parking for the facility.

A development control policy dictates the venue requires 42 car parking spots.

But the council is proposing off-street parking instead.

“This is considered acceptable to the infrequent short-term parking demand as the peak parking time will be outside normal business hours. There is an abundance of off-street parking,” the DA states.

Goulburn Heritage Group member David Penalver, speaking on his own behalf, said it was one aspect that bothered him.

“There should be proper parking,” he said.

“If it’s to be used at night there has to be safe parking. People don’t want to be wandering around dark alley ways to get to their cars so it’s an important issue for evening shows. My impression from talking to other people is that the council has not thought about it and that’s a real shame.”

The council has defended the approach, saying the bulk of shows would be at night when plenty of parking was available.

The Heritage Group will formally discuss the DA at its February meeting. But generally it is supportive of the building’s adaptation.

“I personally hope it is a success because it demonstrates how new life can be brought back into an old building,” Mr Penalver said.

“But I’m concerned that if there is a cost blowout and the whole process gets bogged down with the Heritage Council or if ratepayers decide the money is better spent elsewhere, it may thwart anyone else’s ideas of using the building.”

A heritage impact study tendered with the DA states the 1887 former Goulburn Town hall will be “retained almost in its entirety.” But some internal changes are proposed.

“The removal of some of the original fabric is considered acceptable given that the original building is to be retained,” the study states.

Early doors and joinery to be removed would be “salvaged intact in an agreed location.”

The study concludes that the adaptation “provides a balanced approach to the heritage significance of the site.”

The council is also hoping for a reprieve from its own policies on building height. Under the Local Environmental Plan 2009 the maximum allowable building height is 15 metres. However a rear section of the venue will stand 23.7 metres.

The DA argues the variation still complies with the LEP because the height is at the rear.

The project also requires Office of Environment and Heritage, RMS and Water NSW approval.

The DA is on public exhibition until February 18 and community comment is invited.