Geelong Council has Potato Shed Masterplan on Agenda for Tuesday 25 May meeting

Below is an excerpt from the City of Great Geelong's Agenda for its meeting on May 25, 2010

POTATO SHED MASTERPLAN DETAILED BUSINESS CASE

Portfolio: Arts and Culture - Cr Abley

Education and Youth – Cr Farrell

Source: Community Services / Arts & Culture

General Manager: Irene McGinnigle

Index Reference: Subject: Bellarine Multi-Arts/Arts and Culture

Summary

This report provides an overview of the Business Case process for the Potato Shed Multi-Arts Centre and presents options for its development.

Further expansion of the Potato Shed facility was anticipated in the April 1998 Bellarine Peninsula Multi-Arts Facility Business Plan.

The Potato Shed was built as a joint venture by the City of Greater Geelong,

Bellarine Secondary College and the Roman Catholic Trusts Corporation (on behalf of the Catholic Regional College now St Ignatius College Geelong) with the State Government providing additional funding from the Community Support Fund. A Committee of Management under Section 86 of the Local Government Act oversees the venue.

A Demand Analysis and Business Plan process was undertaken in 2008 to determine current and future needs of the Potato Shed. The findings were that the facility is an exemplary model of partnership with over 90,000 visits per year. It is currently consistently operating close to capacity, 7 days a week, 14 hours a day and is not able to accommodate all bookings. With population on the Bellarine Peninsula expected to grow by another 55% in the coming 20 years, it will not be able to sustain its success without expansion.

Following the Demand Analysis, a two stage Masterplan was developed.

At the Council meeting of 28th October 2008, Council noted the Potato Shed Masterplan and endorsed the development of a Detailed Business Case for Stage One as proposed by the Masterplan.

The Detailed Business Case commenced in October 2009 with a Critical Review of the Demand Analysis and Masterplan. The Review substantiated the findings through rigorous testing and further highlighted the critical need for development of the facility.

Based on the Critical Review, Concept Plans have been revised. Two options have been developed:

• One – A ‘value managed’ option, developing the facility according to a reduced Concept Plan. Cost estimate $8M capital.
• Two – An architecturally ‘optimum’ design option, developing the facility according to a full Concept Plan. Cost estimate $10M capital.

In the unique spirit of collaboration that is a hallmark of the venue’s success, it is proposed that funding for the upgrade be sought in partnership with St Ignatius College and Bellarine Secondary College.

Recommendation

That Council:

1) Note the Potato Shed Masterplan Business Case;

2) Endorse Option 1 of the Masterplan Business Case as the preferred development option conditional on securing external funding.

The full agenda for the Geelong Council meeting on May 25, 2010 is available in pdf format. (This document requires the use of Adobe Acrobat Reader).