Curtains for Tivoli? (WA)

Melville City Herald, Page: 1 Saturday, 14 February, 2009 By Matthew Hogan LOOMING development and potential sale of the historic Applecross District Hall precinct has the Tivoli Theatre Group worried. Melville city council is seeking public comment on how the 2lOOsqm carpark next to the interwar hall and library directly opposite the swanky riverfront Raffles could best be used. Council CEO Shayne Silcox confirmed the site was earmarked for development, to be either leased or sold. He stressed the art deco hail would he retained. "[It ’sI a heritage-listed building that is currently leased through a management licence to the Tivoli Theatre Group. "The hall will be retained and developed in accordance with a conservation plan." That ’s cold comfort to theatre group president Sandy Sharpen, who says she ’d been led to believe that sale plans did not include the hail. "We have been told by the Melville council that any future development of the site would include an upgrade of the building," she told the Herald. "We were however led to believe this would be done by the council. "Should the sale go through refurbishment may take place, but we fear that the current lease agreement we have with the Melville council would not be upheld." Ms Sharpen said verbal assurances had been given about continued community use but the council had not put anything in writing. WA Art Deco Society president Vyonne Geneve shared Ms Sharpen ’s concerns: "[The halli is a community facility and if it is sold the council will be giving up a community asset. "It will lose its local value for the people for which it was designed. I think that ’s an important issue. "They will have to keep it the way it is because it ’s heritage-listed, but the people would no longer be able to use it." Mayor Russell Aubrey said there was nothing to worry about: "The liv oh Theatre and the on going use of it is set in concrete," he said. Dr Silcox said the council ’s preferred option was to lease the carpark site but it had to consider the merits of an outright sale. Mr Aubrey said an attractive, sustainable building that generated income was the best outcome for ratepayers. "We could obviously put the car park underground and possibly develop on top and generate funding to maintain our rates at a lower level," he said. Submission close March 6. http://www.melvillecity.com.au/about/community-consultation/consultations/business-plans-2009/business-plan-canning-beach-rd-kintail-road.pdf