Let us have our say on the proposed Benalla cinema and cafe project!

Hi and yes we should all have a say I thought we lived in democratic country

Please put funding into small surrounding towns.

Pleased to have the opportunity to sign this well constructed petition against our local Council who wrongly believe they can continue to do whatever they please with our community assets, regardless of how important they are to us. Our central lake is our sacred ground, and used for millennia pre colonization. None of this is acknowledged or recognized in whole-of-community engagement or consultation for the prime piece of land-holding beside the renowned Ceramic Mural… an art work of generations of Benalla children contributing to, with some of the best potters, landscape architects, sculptors, poets and philosophers over three decades. Between the historic Mechanics Institute to teach useful trades, and the Monash Bridge, thé use of this land deserves the highest thinking and consultation for the future, from within the community. Not slap/dash development for convenience of vested interests ‘in confidence’, anonymous and unaccountable Council tourism, and ultimately I've been led to believe only for Council staff use. Council have the Town Hall beside them for any updates or extensions of their needs. Don’t forget Council and several current Councillors voted to demolish the historic Mair St. Chambers over one quiet Christmas without anyone knowing, that they now operate in to the cost of millions, beside the original Chambers and Town Hall. They’ve butchered and downgraded the whole lakeside precinct between the Bridge and Mitchell St with no over arching landscape architect advice, or qualified local talent to aesthetically and meaningfully present the stories, history and encounters over time, to continue on… There’s nothing unique to Benalla presented in this whole development, about Benalla and it’s whole broad and enriching histories for us all. It’s just common facilities seen in every town, with little thought. There’s no intersection of note between the historical Botanic Gardens, sporting fields, Art Gallery and education and

A cinema is not a great idea. Kids watch enough screens Surely a bowling alley or some other physical area. A trampoline world. And yes adding another cafe in town is a rediculous idea. What about the gallery cafe just there on the otherside.

I remain unconvinced that the solution to having an unprofitable cinema, is to build another one. Building a new video store wouldn't make less sense! I like the cafe, toilets, and improved museum, but wasting money on a cinema when it could put a safe gutter, or even a footpath in my street is unjustified. I have elderly neighbours, who shouldn't have to struggle with 100 year old infrastructure.

Let’s get through this with dignity

Needs much more consideration and communication with the community.

Not necessary far better to spend money on roads, footpaths or activities for teenagers and children

With all respect to the council members, this new plan is a joke. Each business is struggling during the COVID era but to invent proposals like these comes up to the same level as Maribyrnong council wanting to grow a weed garden. What is the purpose of the council when are they not consulting their community? Where is our voice? There would have to be already over 5 cafes just in the Main Street, why add another and a cinema.

Waste of taxpayers money

Not a viable proposition !

The council should buy the Commercial hotel instead of building on more land and build a big restaurant looking over the lake not looking over the bridge of cars!!

There are far more important things to build in Benalla like good drainage

I prefer my money to ve better spent on footpaths, roads and solar liggting around the lake precinct so we can utelise the lake at night.

A duplication of current amenities that will actually act in competition with existing cafes in the area. Maintaining current town infrastructure as well as returning to free tip tickets for rate payers would be a better use of these funds. This building would be impacted by flooding in the future, and there are many higher priorities the money should go towards.

I'm all for continuous improvement of our lovely town but agree with the sentiments proposed in this petition, there are many priorities ahead of a new cinema, when we have a perfectly good cinema already in operation.

TOTAL WASTE OF RECOURSES ..COME FOR A WALK IN ARUNDEL ST SOUTH SIDE BETWEEN DEAS. AND KENT ST WITH KNEE PADS AND GLOVES AND HEAD GEAR IN CASE YOU TRIP

The counsil needs to consider roads rather than updating the info center, there is already a cinema with a loss of income so why another.

An unnecessary and ill thought out expenditure at this time. There are other priorities for Benalla.

It cannot be overstated how important consultation with the community is on such enormous investment of funds on projects like this. Benalla is the people, the community, and the town - we need to be included in decision making.