City of Subiaco to spend $50,000 on phase one of Subiaco Cultural Space project

CITY of Subiaco will spend $50,000 on phase one of the proposed Subiaco Cultural Space at Subiaco oval.

Councillors voted to approve budgeting $50,000 for phase one which includes engaging with an architect to develop visual site plans for the space, at Tuesday’s council meeting and agreed to consider allocating $100,000 for phase two with a report to be presented to council for consideration before the start of the next phase.

Phase two will involve an assessment of pros and cons in relation to the architectural drawings, images and budget advice.

The Subiaco Cultural Space will be a modern space for football, aboriginal culture and the arts, to be located next to the heritage gates at the oval.

Cr Derek Nash said the space must be exemplar in design and a cultural realm.

“If we’re planning to move forward to the next stage we need to do everything possible to avoid mundane,” he said.

Cr Jodi Mansfield agreed and said council was endorsing a natural extension of the process they already initiated.

“I see a potential opportunity to transform the East Precinct of Subiaco and I dare ask to think big and wholeheartedly endorse Cr Nash’s sentiments creating something that will draw people to Subiaco for design excellence,” she said.

However, Cr Julie Matheson said she was concerned the Subiaco Cultural Space was “MIA” in all documents, including Subiaco East Precinct.

“We have MRA conditions of approval of demolition but this cultural space is nowhere to be seen in recommendation,” she said.

“I can see them wanting to preserve wooden seats, identifying historic themes and narratives, re-using old signs, but cant find anything to do with Subiaco’s Cultural Space.

“Staff said in June a detailed business plan would need to be developed before the City goes ahead with approving expenditure – it’s problematic and this will be seen as throwing money in thin air.”

City Beach resident told council she was worried the Subiaco Cultural Space had not been successfully canvassed by the City of Subiaco.

“It did not appear on any of the community feedback boards the public filled in which I or others viewed at the first two “Have your Say” sessions,” she said.

“It would appear the Mayor, CEO and the City of Subiaco may need to canvas this idea further to see if it would be supported before committing significant unbudgeted ratepayers monies in the development of a visual site plan.”

Cr Nash said in order to look at the space further, council needed funds.

“This is a live idea, and is not set in concrete at the moment,” he said.

“The proposal here will give ammunition to progress the space – this not a vision alone, this is a follow up motion.”