Ian Goodenough (Moore, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is an emerging need in our community to provide additional resources to support our cultural, creative, visual and performing arts sector. It has been a common theme expressed in responses to my electorate-wide community survey: the sentiment that sporting and community groups receive the lion's share of government funding at the expense of the arts. There is a sizeable thriving arts community in my electorate. In particular, I acknowledge the efforts of Deputy Mayor Adrian Hill and Councillor Phillip Vinciullo from the City of Joondalup, who are strong advocates for the arts.

As our regional city evolves, develops and matures, our facilities require sufficient capacity to host conventions, exhibitions and performances for a wide range of groups. In order for organisations such as the highly professional Joondalup Symphony Orchestra to grow and develop, access to storage space for musical instruments, a suitable space for recitals, and venues for performances are required. Providing facilities for the arts is an essential part of community development. The concept of a Joondalup performing arts centre was considered in detail a few years ago, with differing views from the community at the time as to its proposed design, the cost—estimated at $100 million—affordability for rate payers, and whether it would be adequately utilised. It was controversial at the time.

It is clear that a project of this scale should be jointly funded by all three levels of government: local, state and federal. I understand that there is a site located within the Joondalup Learning Precinct of Grand Boulevard that is set aside for the construction of such a facility. Furthermore, the City of Joondalup has reserve funds of $37.5 million set aside for a future civic facility. Experience has shown that it takes several years to get a project of this magnitude off the ground, so the process should be started early. The time is now right for the concept of a regional convention, exhibition and performing arts centre for Joondalup and Perth's northern suburbs to be revisited through extensive stakeholder engagement and community consultation. By partnering with organisations such as Edith Cowan University and the local business community, the facility can be utilised for a wide range of purposes such as expos, product launches and a civic venue for corporate events, ensuring it does not become a costly white elephant for rate payers.