28 June 2011 Community Groups Shut out of Shed

Community groups are being asked to pay too much for hire of Princes Wharf Shed 1, according to Greens Alderman Helen Burnet

Ald Burnet met with community groups yesterday who were looking at staging events in PW1 later this year. Representatives were concerned about the viability of their events, given the price hike with the new hire fee structure.

Lissa Villeneuve has organised the highly successful Sustainable Living Expo, which has been held in PW1 for the past two years. Last year the event attracted more than 10,000 people over the weekend event.

“Sustainable Living Tasmania is a not-for-profit community organisation, and this year we are facing a 600% increase in hire costs to hold this free community event at PW1 – from $1500 last year to $9800 plus GST. Venue hire fees will be more than ten per cent of our overall costs. “

“We were the first event last year in the renewed shed, and feel that this is the ideal space for our popular free community event, particularly as “the People’s Shed” has many impressive sustainability features. It will be a pity to have to take the event elsewhere,” Ms Villeneuve said.

Virginia Bashford from the Migrant Resource Centre is organising a multicultural festival later this year. She wanted to hold the annual Peace Festival in PW1. “This is a very good venue for community events, with a good atmosphere, acoustics and set up for the many diverse activities we are programming for the Peace Festival. However, the costs are beyond what we can afford, and whilst we would like to hold the event at PW1, we may have to go elsewhere” she said.

Alderman Burnet wants the Shed owners – Treasury – to come up with a different pricing mechanism that doesn’t discourage community organisations from using this fabulous space.

“From the outset when former Premier David Bartlett announced the Shed’s refurbishment, it was very exciting to think that it would be a place for the Hobart community to use and enjoy. What transpires is that community groups are not welcome unless they have deep pockets.

“Community groups should not be off-setting the cost for other organisations who can legitimately afford the shed hire.

“It is important that the Shed is in use throughout the year, and that it is used by a diversity of groups.

“Does the State government want a fantastic and dynamic space that is used constantly throughout the year, or does Treasury want to run community groups away from this and leave it as an empty under-utilised barn?” Ald Burnet said.

Ald Burnet is also concerned about cost-shifting by the State government. It is likely that non-government organizations will be asking the Hobart City Council for funding to cover venue hire.

“I do not believe that Council instead of the State government should have to subsidise community groups who are not getting any grant to host their events at the Shed. We can be certain that there are community groups and non-government organizations that have and will be approaching Council to help cover these costs, but it is not, in my opinion, Council’s role to do this”, she said.

Alderman Burnet called on the Treasurer and Premier to reconsider this fee structure and to ensure that it was financially viable for local community groups.

For more information contact Helen Burnet phone 0417 284 267