Council Minutes - 27 October 2009 - City of Greater Geelong

Greater Geelong City Council 27 October 2009
Minutes of Ordinary Meeting
SECTION B - REPORTS Page 19
3. GEELONG FUTURE CITIES – GEELONG LIBRARY & HERITAGE CENTRE
(CONT’D)
The Geelong Future Cities project has been identified as one of Council’s 13 highest
priorities.
Officer Direct or Indirect Interest
There is no direct or indirect interest by Council Officers involved in the preparation of
this report.
Risk Assessment
There are short and long-term risk implications for each facility, the Precinct and the
Geelong region in not implementing the Masterplan. Already each facility faces real
challenges in maintaining and developing their programming and visitation.
Despite increasing high quality programming, the central Library is experiencing a
downturn in visits and unfavourable comparisons to other libraries by visitors. The
Heritage Centre has a magnificent collection stored in barely adequate conditions with
poor visibility and limited access.
The risks in not implementing the project include the continuing physical decline of
each facility, loss of audience and visitation, loss of current and future opportunities,
loss of liveability for the region and loss of economic benefits as both audiences and
producers go to Melbourne, Bendigo, Ballarat or elsewhere to fulfil cultural ambitions,
find entertainment, and to participate in events and activities.
The social risks include loss of learning opportunities, loss of stimulation and
innovation, loss of challenge, and gradual stagnation of the Cultural Precinct.
Individual Project Risks have been identified and are being closely monitored.
Social Considerations
Culture is key to strategic thinking that is guiding the development of many cities and
regions around the world.
Geelong is fortunate to have a cluster of cultural facilities in Little Malop Street and in
close proximity to Johnstone Park and the Railway Station. The concept of a Cultural
Precinct is not new. This historical record makes it clear that the City fathers, in days
gone by, clustered a set of civic and cultural institutions about Johnstone Park and
Little Malop Street in the knowledge that their actions would benefit citizens down the
years. The precinct currently receives half a million users and visitors each year.
However each facility has been experiencing great difficulty in sustaining or developing
its audience as the physical limitations of run down, small and/or inefficient spaces with
inadequate fit out bites hard.
The implementation of the Masterplan with its revitalisation of each facility, the urban
realm and connections, is expected to significantly increase the number of visits and
benefit the whole region.