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General News

16 July, 2024

Wesley wins council vote

Horsham Rural City Council has thrown its financial weight behind the proposed redevelopment of the Wesley Performing Arts and Cultural Centre.

By Rosalea Ryan

Wesley Performing Arts and Cultural Centre.
Wesley Performing Arts and Cultural Centre.

Horsham Rural City Council has thrown its financial weight behind the proposed redevelopment of the Wesley Performing Arts and Cultural Centre.

At its last monthly meeting, council voted unanimously to back the project by underwriting the Wesley committee’s fundraising target of $550,000.

This will enable HRCC to apply to Victoria’s Regional Tourism Investment Fund for a grant of the same amount.

Councillors also agreed to allocate up to $714,000 from their budget to the works, comprising $224,000 in 2023-24 and $490,000 in 2025-26.

It is estimated that the redevelopment will cost $2 million, of which $1,550,000 is outstanding.

The Wesley committee has committed $226,000, and in April this year launched an intensive fundraising campaign with the aim of collecting another $550,000 - $60,000 of which has since been raised locally.

In supporting the motion, mayor Robyn Gulline said the $490,000 which council was undertaking to provide in 2025-26 was a maximum, and that for every dollar raised by the committee, this requirement from HRCC would be reduced accordingly.

Speaking to the motion, Cr Claudia Haenel described the Wesley Centre as “a much-loved and iconic part of the social tapestry of the Horsham community”.

Cr David Bowe said it was “fantastic” so see the progress made to date towards reinvigorating “a cornerstone of our community’s cultural life”.

Cr Penny Flynn said that to people who asked “Do we still need Wesley?”, her answer was “Yes, we do”.

“A number of events I’ve recently attended would have been ideally suited to the Wesley,” Cr Flynn said.

“Currently our town hall is unable to meet 15 per cent of the enquiries they receive.”

Cr Flynn said the committee had continued to maintain the building while it had been unused for the past six years.

Cr Ian Ross said his one concern was that council was making “a fairly significant allocation of funds” from a budget that was yet to be approved.

However, “the aim of the committee is to gift the premises to council, so on that basis we’re investing ... in ourselves and in our city and in our activities”, Cr Ross said.

Cr Gulline said it had been council's intention from the outset to apply for funding if the opportunity arose.

If it succeeded, “we could be opening this facility in 2026”, she said.

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