VCAT APPEAL TO PLANNING PERMIT “DISAPPOINTING”

At their August 12 meeting Shire of Yarra Ranges Councillors voted unanimously to approve the application for the construction of a 400 seat performing arts space at Burrinja in Upwey.
This week ten residents local to the proposed project lodged an appeal to VCAT against the Shire of Yarra Ranges decision to grant a Town Planning Permit.

Although the Burrinja Committee is disappointed that issues surrounding the project could not be resolved by further consultation or mediation, President Paul O’Halloran says that residents are simply exercising their democratic right to have their say in a forum other than Council.

“Burrinja has been very active in trying to keep residents informed about the project and any developments since the first consultation meeting held in September of 2005, and then ongoing” said Paul O’Halloran. “Staff have personally letterboxed hundreds of the surrounding houses on many occasions, inviting residents to information and consultation sessions during the past three years. At these sessions draft plans and arising issues have been discussed with those who attended, with suggestions fed back into the planning and design process.”

The Shire of Yarra Ranges sent surveys and information regarding the proposal and the permit application to some 400 residents in the area. Consideration of the submissions made to the town planning process resulted in further changes being made by the Gregory Burgess design team to address specific local residents concerns.

Executive Officer Ross Farnell says that “the 46 Conditions placed by Council upon the planning permit provide substantial protection for residents, ensuring minimal impact of the facility upon the local area. We will continue to discuss and negotiate on any remaining issues to achieve the best possible outcomes.”

While the delay to final approval for the project is disappointing, it is not to be unexpected in a project such as this. Burrinja and Gregory Burgess Architects will now work through this process with the aim of delivering a performing arts facility that serves and meets the needs of all of the community, including the concerns of neighbours.
“We are committed to ensuring we minimize Burrinja’s impact on the local residents on a continuing basis” said Paul O’Halloran.

Burrinja Performing Arts Project

Breaking News!
August 12, 2008

COUNCIL APPROVES PLANNING PERMIT!

At their August 12 meeting Shire of Yarra Ranges Councillors voted unanimously to approve the application to grant a town planning permit for the construction of a 400 seat performing arts space at Burrinja.

Achieving this key milestone is another very important step forward in bringing this vital community project to fruition.

With the unflagging support of the community the project has secured $9.6m in funding from the three tiers of government; completed feasibility, site and business plans; achieved a design that works to meet the community needs and the budget; and now has council planning approval.

In every instance, the strong support of the community has made the real difference. The project has proven that communities do have the ability to be heard and to achieve positive outcomes.

We still have some way to go before construction can begin. As the project moves into the detailed design stage we will be working hard to ensure that any potential impact of the Performing Arts Centre on neighboring residents is minimized. Numerous changes have already been made to the traffic and parking layouts and to future management plans to ensure that the operations of Burrinja continue to be sensitive to the needs of the local area, and the project will continue its endeavors in this important area.
We will continue to work with our neighbours to address their concerns both now and into the future.

Burrinja would like to thank everyone, from key stakeholders to Foundation and Jarmbi members, Councillors, volunteers, local state and federal government representatives and the many hundreds of individuals who have been the real strength of this project.
It is currently planned to begin construction in mid 2009.

YOU WON’T LOSE YOUR LOCAL ARTS AND CULTURAL HUB WHILE WE’RE BUILDING!

It is planned that Burrinja Gallery and Café will remain operational during the construction period, and continue to bring a vibrant program of visual, performing, education and community arts to the region.

The new theatre will be used by all regional schools, professional and community theatre, music groups and children’s theatre; for performances, rehearsals, workshops, youth arts activities and more.
Many of the improvements will be made by refurbishing existing areas of the cultural facility, while a new auditorium of some 420 sq metres will be added over existing car parking. Car and bus parking capacity and handling capabilities will be increased substantially.

The project will also end the current discrimination against people with disabilities in the area. The centre’s existing first floor has no disability access at all, excluding many from using the centre. The new facility is designed as an exemplary access all abilities – all areas facility.

The proposal is in response to three major council studies into cultural facilities and services in the region. It is designed to meet the demonstrated needs of the local community, the arts sector, education sector, tourism and the arts-business sector. The Master Development builds the capacity of the organisation and facility to provide ongoing and sustainable benefits across a wide range of activities and outcome areas in partnership with other key cross-sector service providers in the region.

The Shire of Yarra Ranges and Burrinja have conducted a series of community, resident and stakeholder consultations regarding the project, commencing with studies in 1998, 2002 and 2003 and working with residents on draft plans through meetings from September 2005 onward.

Burrinja is…
the region’s key multi functional arts facility and cultural hub;
managed by a not-for-profit cultural organisation in Partnership with the Shire of Yarra Ranges in a Shire owned facility;
provides community cultural development (CCD) & arts activities for residents of the Shire of Yarra Ranges and beyond;
established as an icon arts and culture centre in the Dandenong Ranges;
home to the world-class Burrinja Indigenous Art Collection (Shire of Yarra Ranges);
a cultural tourism destination; and,
an arts business enterprise incubator

A fully funded budget of $9.6m has now been confirmed for the project with funding from local, state and federal governments. The project is planned to commence building in 2009, with completion in 2010.

‘Click above to enlarge floor plan’

In part, the Minster’s statement reads:

The Rudd Labor Government will provide certainty for up to 86 not-for-profit and local government projects, including the Shire of Yarra Ranges’ Burrinja Cultural Centre application, which were granted approvals but did not have formal contracts under the previous government’s Regional Partnerships program.

However, the press release states:

We also recognise that under the new plan, not all of these projects will meet the requirements to become eligible to receive financial support.

While Burrinja and the Shire are pleased to see that “common sense” is beginning to prevail in this decision, we are by no means comfortable that funding is once again confirmed. Given our experience with the federal funding fiasco over the past 8 months and the Minister’s ‘eligibility criteria’ statement, we will now only rest once the contract with the department is signed.

Therefore, we urge all concerned members of the community to continue their pressure on the Minister’s office and the department until such time as we are confident that funding will again be approved.

Until then, we are still forwarding as many ‘letter of support’ postcards to the Minister as we can, and seek your support in this continuing action. If you have not already done so, please download a postcard HERE - complete your details, sign the card and send it to Burrinja where we will ensure it gets to the Minister’s office.

The last fortnight of community action has proven the power of communities to create change, and Burrinja thanks everyone for their fabulous support – from individuals to school and arts communities. Now we simply need to keep up the pressure to clear the last hurdle, and secure the future of performing arts in the Dandenong Ranges.

Contact Burrinja on 9754 8723 or email: saveourtheatre@burrinja.org.au

Take Action download and post a letter of protest to the Minister

Read the Minister’s Statement HERE

MEDIA RELEASE
May 16, 2008

COMMUNITY FIGHTS TO REVERSE FEDERAL AXING OF ARTS CENTRE PROJECT
The Dandenong Ranges community is devastated by the axing of the Performing Arts Centre at Burrinja through the ‘closure’ of the Regional Partnership program. The Federal government has reneged on a previous funding commitment to contribute two million dollars to the $9.6m community project. The withdrawal of funding condemns the entire development.

This project would deliver the region a 400 seat performance space, disability access to all areas, an indigenous education cultural garden and vast improvements to the studios, indigenous and community galleries, rehearsal and workshop spaces.

Burrinja President Paul O’Halloran says that losing the performing arts centre “is a kick in the teeth for the community which has worked for years to get this project.” The community, Burrinja committee and Shire of Yarra Ranges have vowed to fight the axing: “This government must stand by the public pledge made to the community nine months ago”.

Executive Officer Ross Farnell notes that “although some Regional Partnerships programs may be accused of having been created by a cynical political process; this was never the case with Burrinja. The Performing Arts Centre proposal has been some fifteen years in the making. It follows an exhaustive process of analysing options, surveying the local community, feasibility studies, listening to school communities, and winning support from local and state governments.” The shire has allocated $4.6 million to the project and the state government $3 million.

The need for the new facilities has been driven by the Dandenong Ranges community. They will be used by the region’s many schools, which currently have no local venue, and by professional, community and children’s theatre groups for performances, rehearsals, workshops, youth arts activities and more.

The project would also end the current discrimination against people with disabilities in the area. The centre’s first floor has no disability access at all, excluding many from using the centre.

“This decision denies from the community the one chance we have of meeting the performing arts and cultural needs of the region”, says Paul O’Halloran

The new Federal Government has refused to talk to anyone involved in the project since November 2007, and all correspondence has been ignored. Even now, the only notification about the funding withdrawal is via a departmental web site.

HELP US GET OUR FUNDING BACK!

You can help Burrinja and the Shire get back our funding!

To express your disapproval of the Federal Government’s axing of funding for the Burrinja Performing Arts centre, please send the following message to the responsible Minster.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOLLOWING LETTER TO PRINT AND SEND TO MR ALBANESE

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP.
PO Box 6022;
House of Representatives,
Parliament House.
Canberra ACT 2600.
Fax: (02) 6273 4126
A.Albanese.MP@aph.gov.au

Dear Minister Albanese,

By axing funding for the Burrinja Cultural Centre development though the ‘closure’ of the Regional Partnership program, you are denying us our only chance of having a performing arts and cultural venue in the Dandenong Ranges region that meets the needs of our children, schools and community.

This project will deliver a 400 seat performance space, disability access to all areas, an indigenous education cultural garden and vast improvements to the studios, Indigenous and community galleries, rehearsal and workshop spaces.

It will be used by all of the Dandenong Ranges region’s schools, professional and community theatre, music groups and children’s theatre; for performances, rehearsals, workshops, youth arts activities and more.

By reneging on the government’s funding commitment you are condemning the entire $9.6m project, which has $7.6m in State and Local Government funding. The federal funding was NOT a political promise, but the result of a detailed and rigorous application process.

Losing the Burrinja performing arts centre is a kick in the teeth for the community who has worked for many years to get this project. Your government must stand by the pledge made nine months ago to support it.

Yours sincerely,

_______________

JOIN THE FIGHT

For more information about how you can help the campaign to save this important community project from the axe,
contact Burrinja on 9754 8723
or email: saveourtheatre@burrinja.org.au

LATEST BREAKING NEWS – AUGUST 2007
Performing Arts receives a Federal funding boost!
It was a fabulous day for the future of arts and culture in the region on Thursday August 23, 2007 when the Federal Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads, Jim Lloyd and Member for La Trobe, Jason Wood, announced that the Australian Government would contribute $2,001,957 through the Regional Partnerships program to the upgrade of Burrinja.

Combined with the previous commitments from the Shire of Yarra Ranges and the State Government of Victoria, this terrific partnership across all three tiers of government has now committed a total of $9.6m to make the 400 seat performing arts centre, facility upgrade and ‘Art of Place’ indigenous cultural garden at Burrinja a reality.

The proposed Centre will make a major contribution to the arts and cultural needs of the local community providing residents, schools and parents with a local major performing arts venue.

This level of project funding would not have been possible without the commitment of people like our Foundation and Jarmbi Members who have supported the project with pledges, letters, membership and by participating in our many programs and events. Both the Minister and Jason Wood noted that the strong cross sector community support in evidence for the Burrinja project was instrumental in it receiving this unprecedented level of Federal Regional Partnership funding.

The project will soon go to a formal review at Council before proceeding to a town planning application before the end of the year. It is currently hoped to begin building within ten to twelve months.

We hope to raise further funds from the community through our Foundation Membership for essential big-ticket items that are not part of the capital works funding, such as a grand piano. If you’d like more information please contact the centre.

From Burrinja’s Committee of Management and all on the Project Control Group, a huge ‘thank you’ to all our Jarmbi Members for helping make a purpose-built home for the performing arts in the hills a reality. It is an excellent example of what can be achieved by active communities.

Read the Premier of Victoria’s 2006 Funding Media Release by downloading the PDF here.

Master Plan concept drawings are available to be viewed at Burrinja on request.
Building modifications are planned to commence in 12 to 24 months subject to approvals and town planning.

Thank you for supporting the performing arts in the Dandenong Ranges!

The Vision.

Art of Place is a project that will affect our community well into the future. It will be a place of reconciliation through education; a place of enlightenment, participation and also of quiet reflection. The pathway begins at the front entrance of Burrinja and ambles around the building and part of its surrounding parkland.

Take a walk through this garden and we will soon be walking in different shoes with a different outlook on this land. We are surrounded by plants that tell a cultural story both of today and long ago – plants that hold the stories of those peoples who first walked this land, who cared for it, farmed and managed it, and who remain inseparable from it today. We walk hand in hand, together on country. As we understand the depth of those ongoing stories, we begin to understand our connection with country – our relationship with it – and how we to can join with others to preserve this very important aspect of our Country’s history – its Indigenous history.

This is Aboriginal Land.
Wurundjeri Land.

Follow the path through the wetlands where there are plants that can be used for food, medicine, baskets and twines; hear the sounds of the animals that live in the billabongs and observe their habitats. Read the maps and information stones. Further along the path we are surrounded by different plants: woody plants that provide fibers and saps for tools, adhesives, fire and Ceremony. See orchids and daisies, mints and grasses, seeds for foods and medicine. Houses and canoes came from these plants, food, clothing and thread, and totems and moieties from its animals. A whole new world opens up to us as we take in this knowledge.

As we continue we will come across sculptures within the garden, growing like plants from the land. Each sculpture represents a story from each of the five traditional language groups of the Kulin Nation who were the first settlers of Melbourne and surrounds more than 40,000 years ago. and who are still active custodians of this Country today.

Art of Place will be a living ‘library’ from which we can access a balanced knowledge of Australian History. Age appropriate experiential workshops especially tailored for Primary and Secondary schools will be a regular feature. Tourists will be enthralled. The project itself will be created by interested groups within the community, and will be completely sustainable with its own water and energy supply. All Aboriginal knowledge and content will be sourced from those whose story it is, and in doing so will keep its true cultural integrity.

Check out the Art of Place Mud Map HERE

Anyone who is inspired to be part of this project should contact project coordinator Elizabeth Conolly through Burrinja or e-mail artofplace@burrinja.org.au This page will be regularly updated so keep watching for details.