Dear Mayor and Councillors of Benalla Rural City Council,
We request the Council suspend the proposed cinema and café project of the Visitor Information Centre Redevelopment project.
The reasons for this demand is:
- BPACC cinema’s average attendance is 26 people per show, it is losing $200,000-$300,000 per year, and the Council hasn't shared any financial plans with Benalla residents for the proposed cinema. Please share the feasibility study to show how building a new luxury cinema with a cafe would change this continual drain on our finances. Please provide the community with financial projections to prove the viability of this project before spending OUR money.
- The drains, footpaths, roads, and cycleways in Benalla Rural City Council are crumbling, don’t meet safety requirements, and have been identified as a hazard. People have sustained serious injuries tripping on footpaths that are uneven and broken and there is no plan to commit the funds needed to fix this. We need to invest roads, footpaths, cycle ways, drainage, sporting facilities, parks and more outdoor activities in a time like this with constant lockdowns and restrictions so that residents across the council can safely exercise.
- Our small business owners of cafes, pubs and restaurants are struggling with current conditions to make ends meet and save jobs. Please don’t add pressure on small businesses by building more council cafes without consulting hospitality business owners.
- Is it fair to spend this much money in the city of Benalla when towns like Swanpool, Tatong, and Baddaginnie don't even have footpaths or fun and safe public spaces for kids to play?
- Residents of Benalla haven’t had any opportunity to have our say in this project. We understand it is a requirement of the Local Government Act 2020 to consult and empower (IAP2 principles) the community in projects like the proposed cinema and cafe, so please suspend the proposed project and listen to residents.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
March 24, 2022
December 3, 2021
I was walking past the centre earlier and honestly it is just baffling that they think a new cafe is the priority while our actual streets are falling apart. Some of you have been sending me photos of the cracks in the footpaths near your houses and it is honestly wild that anyone would choose to build a luxury project instead of fixing basic safety issues for the people who live here.
Reached 100 supporters
September 16, 2021
122 Comments
The community( as stated in the local Government Act) requires genuine, respectful and meaningful consultation with all aspects of the project and full transparency. This has not yet been undertaken, let alone achieved.
Council, Please consult with the community on this ill-considered project. The design of the proposed building is incompatible with the natural beauty of the lakeshore and puts unnecessary pressure on existing businesses. No-one can be proud of an eyesore on the lake. Please consult with ratepayers.
I am not in favour of spending this amount of money on a cinema when we already have one in town. The monies would be better spent on maintaining the roads and footpaths, being an older lady with mobility issues I find that some of the footpaths are a trip Hazzard eg. Maginness Street and Nun Street
For my point of view Cinema is not the most essential in Benalla. Technology is developing day by day. Almost everyone has internet facilities. Most people has Netflix or sort of channels to watch movies. I feel it such a waste of money.
And you are going to flog yourself working in your business to pay rates... to subsidise the proposed cafe and cinema. It doesn't seem fair that the Council haven't asked other hospitality businesses to make sure there are enough dollars to go around.
Over budget underquoted too many secrets
The most ludicrous proposal yet from Benalla Council. Who is going to earn out of this? Boutique cinema? Is it for those with a decent incense me? Totally unnecessary when we already have a cinema that runs at a loss.
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Dear Mayor and Councillors of Benalla Rural City Council,
We request the Council suspend the proposed cinema and café project of the Visitor Information Centre Redevelopment project.
The reasons for this demand is:
- BPACC cinema’s average attendance is 26 people per show, it is losing $200,000-$300,000 per year, and the Council hasn't shared any financial plans with Benalla residents for the proposed cinema. Please share the feasibility study to show how building a new luxury cinema with a cafe would change this continual drain on our finances. Please provide the community with financial projections to prove the viability of this project before spending OUR money.
- The drains, footpaths, roads, and cycleways in Benalla Rural City Council are crumbling, don’t meet safety requirements, and have been identified as a hazard. People have sustained serious injuries tripping on footpaths that are uneven and broken and there is no plan to commit the funds needed to fix this. We need to invest roads, footpaths, cycle ways, drainage, sporting facilities, parks and more outdoor activities in a time like this with constant lockdowns and restrictions so that residents across the council can safely exercise.
- Our small business owners of cafes, pubs and restaurants are struggling with current conditions to make ends meet and save jobs. Please don’t add pressure on small businesses by building more council cafes without consulting hospitality business owners.
- Is it fair to spend this much money in the city of Benalla when towns like Swanpool, Tatong, and Baddaginnie don't even have footpaths or fun and safe public spaces for kids to play?
- Residents of Benalla haven’t had any opportunity to have our say in this project. We understand it is a requirement of the Local Government Act 2020 to consult and empower (IAP2 principles) the community in projects like the proposed cinema and cafe, so please suspend the proposed project and listen to residents.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
March 24, 2022
December 3, 2021
I was walking past the centre earlier and honestly it is just baffling that they think a new cafe is the priority while our actual streets are falling apart. Some of you have been sending me photos of the cracks in the footpaths near your houses and it is honestly wild that anyone would choose to build a luxury project instead of fixing basic safety issues for the people who live here.
Reached 100 supporters
September 16, 2021
122 Comments
Benalla does not need a second cinema as BPACC is already a great asset. We are able to enjoy the Swanpool cinema & all it has to offer for our enjoyment. The ratepayers money would be better spent on roads & footpaths.
The community( as stated in the local Government Act) requires genuine, respectful and meaningful consultation with all aspects of the project and full transparency. This has not yet been undertaken, let alone achieved.
Council, Please consult with the community on this ill-considered project. The design of the proposed building is incompatible with the natural beauty of the lakeshore and puts unnecessary pressure on existing businesses. No-one can be proud of an eyesore on the lake. Please consult with ratepayers.
I am not in favour of spending this amount of money on a cinema when we already have one in town. The monies would be better spent on maintaining the roads and footpaths, being an older lady with mobility issues I find that some of the footpaths are a trip Hazzard eg. Maginness Street and Nun Street
For my point of view Cinema is not the most essential in Benalla. Technology is developing day by day. Almost everyone has internet facilities. Most people has Netflix or sort of channels to watch movies. I feel it such a waste of money.
And you are going to flog yourself working in your business to pay rates... to subsidise the proposed cafe and cinema. It doesn't seem fair that the Council haven't asked other hospitality businesses to make sure there are enough dollars to go around.
Over budget underquoted too many secrets
The most ludicrous proposal yet from Benalla Council. Who is going to earn out of this? Boutique cinema? Is it for those with a decent incense me? Totally unnecessary when we already have a cinema that runs at a loss.
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Benalla does not need a second cinema as BPACC is already a great asset. We are able to enjoy the Swanpool cinema & all it has to offer for our enjoyment. The ratepayers money would be better spent on roads & footpaths.