Six projects from the Dubbo Regional Theatre totalling $10.7 million have been included in the shortlist for $9 million Stronger Communities Funding but the facility won’t get all of the money.
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A total upgrade of the theatre would exceed the fund and would also go against the intention to spread the money across the region.
Dubbo Regional Council administrator Michael Kneipp said the theatre had presented a list of things they would like to do.
It included $3.95 million for an upgrade to the main hall, $3.5 million for backstage and breakout rooms, $837,000 for new toilets and amenities, $397,000 for a sliding divider door and signage, and $145,000 for a seperate entrance to the Oxley Room.
He welcomed the planning the theatre had done, but said it was unlikely the theatre would dominate this round of funding.
“That’s the wishlist for the future and it’s good to see they’re looking at their assets to say if some money came along, these are things we would look at and this would be our preference,” he said.
“I wouldn’t envisage that one project would dominate the funding.”
The most expensive project on the list was the $8.5 million 25-metre indoor poll at the Dubbo Aquatic Leisure Centre.
Similarly, Mr Kneipp said it was unlikely the project would be fully-funded but some money could go towards the pool’s construction, with the remainder to come from other avenues, including grants.
“A project might be $4 million, we can give them $2 million and they can use that to secure dollar-for-dollar funding from other areas,” he said.
“There are sport and recreation grants, artistic grants and so we may not fund the whole project but they could get other funding.”
Wellington Pool is also listed for $3 million to go towards the reconstruction of the pool. The total estimated cost of the project is $7.5 million but Mr Kneipp said if selected, the the balance could come from funding set aside by the former Wellington council.
“Wellington has reserves we can look at, but there is also the potential to borrow. Interest rates are low at the moment so for a piece of major infrastructure like that, that’s an option we have,” he said.
All of the projects on the list had merit, Mr Kneipp said, and those that weren’t selected for a grant would be able to look at other funding avenues.
