Katherine Herrmann of the Roxy Redevelopment Committee provided us with great insight behind the closed doors outlining the architectural, cultural (heritage), compliance and dare I say it Covid issues being experienced, as slowing but surely the Roxy redevelopment progress. Last week the Roxy got a new roof just in time too with the recent rain event.
The Roxy Redevelopment Project will see adaptive re-use and restoration of the facility to achieve a multifunctional and fully accessible theatre and civic space that honours the building's special heritage values. The Lloyd Group has been on site since January 2022, when the keys were officially handed over to them by Council’s Roxy Project Manager, Gideon Vos.
Leeton Shire Council recently decided to reject tenders on price, in favour of entering into direct negotiation with the preferred tenderer, the Lloyd Group, and brokering meetings with the builder and local Leeton contractors who were being encouraged to put in a bid.
The full project currently faces a funding gap after the Commonwealth Building Better Region’s Fund application was not supported, exacerbated by cost escalations from Covid, which has impacted supply chains and steel prices for example. The full redevelopment of the Roxy will deliver a beautifully restored heritage building that serves as the Shire’s Town Hall / Civic Centre, state of the art Theatre, Cinema, CBD activation hub and an outpost for artistic excellence (RIPA, Roxy Institute of Performing Arts), with the footprint extending into the former Movie Café and Crate Café which Council acquired in 2020.
The Roxy Redevelopment Committee (RRC) has resolved to recommend to Council that this important multifunctional space needs to be developed in one go, and not be staged. To show their commitment, the Committee has pledged to raise $1M themselves towards the funding shortfall if further attempts at federal government partnership funding don’t deliver a result.
In explaining the reasons for their position, the RRC considered the tender responses for staging and reflected on “What does success look like?” in the light of NIDA’s recent confirmation that RIPA will be its partner agency in regional NSW over the next 2 years including investment in Leeton-based programs of $1.2 million ($600,000 in cash and $600,000 in kind). NIDA is the National Institute of Dramatic Arts.
“RIPA is not only about stage performances, but also about building all the back of house capacity for young people wanting to develop careers in the performing arts.
To know that Leeton now has the chance to create a venue to inspire and train regional performers and technicians is incredibly exciting. Not only is this an opportunity to support local talent but it’s also a beacon to attract other students, experts, audiences and business partners to Leeton. There is so much potential here, the future possibilities are endlessly exciting.”
Having a fully-functioning town hall and performing arts venue is key to attracting and retaining workforce for Leeton businesses and industries as it makes the Shire a wonderful place to live, work and play.
Contemplating the value of the investment required to deliver the full Roxy vision, RRC member and (Voluntary) Roxy Project Director Katherine Herrmann, with two decades of experience in delivery of cultural and civic infrastructure said there were 3 key reasons to support proceeding with the full project immediately.
“Firstly, we are finally achieving full compliance in regards disabled access, fire compliance and safety for workers and patrons – all long overdue. Secondly, if we were to build the Roxy from scratch it would cost in excess of $20M in today’s money. Being able to achieve a modern day facility in a beautiful heritage building for half that amount is money well spent and will be an intergenerational asset.
“Lastly, staging is complicated and there will need to be substantial enabling works, including structural support works done in advance, some of which then has to be redone later. This could easily add several more million to the project which could be avoided if we find ways to proceed with the full project now”, said Ms Herrmann.
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Carmel’s Brain Teaser 
Sergeant Geoff
Stupid Silly Joke 
Thank you Hanna
