Let’s Build the Surf Coast Cultural Centre!
Surf Coast Shire Council is encouraging community members to email MPs and candidates via its web portal to highlight what the Surf Coast Cultural Centre would mean for the community.
Surf Coast Shire Council hopes a surge of community support will help secure funding for the new Surf Coast Cultural Centre planned for Torquay.
The centre will provide new and expanded homes for the Australian National Surfing Museum, Torquay Library and Torquay Visitor Information Centre, integrating with the redeveloped Multi Arts Centre, MAC.
The Surf Coast Cultural Centre will help drive recovery from the pandemic by helping a tourism sector hit hard by restricted travel.
It will provide a new and invigorating hub for one of regional Australia’s most creative regional communities, and a place for lifelong learning and social connections while celebrating the region’s First Nations cultural history and proud surfing heritage.
Surf Coast Shire has approved concept plans and a business case for a two-stage development of the centre.
Stage one, anticipated to start in 2024, will cost $36.8 million and includes an expanded surfing museum with its internationally-significant collection, expanded library and visitor centre, café, and rehearsal and maker spaces, with the new building integrating with the existing redeveloped Multi Arts Centre, MAC.
Surf Coast Shire has committed $8 million as well as the site, and is actively pursuing state and federal government grants and pledges to attract the $29 million needed to commence stage one.
Stage two of the project is expected to start in 2030 and cost $20 million, involving construction of a new 250-seat studio and purpose built gallery with technical and backstage areas for performers.
A completed project will bring lasting economic benefit, injecting an additional $173 million in direct and indirect economic impact in the Great Ocean Road region, supporting more than 750 longer term jobs.
