City to underwrite arts precinct

The City of Karratha intends to underwrite the $55.6 million estimated Karratha Arts and Community Precinct with $27.5 million of its own funds.

The City hopes to also fund the project through a mixture of grants and industry contributions.

It is applying for $10 million through the Federal Government’s National Stronger Regional Fund, $14 million of Royalties for Regions money through the Pilbara Cities Infrastructure Fund, and $1 million through Lotterywest as well as negotiating with industry for about $9 million.

The City is determined to progress the project and has to submit its application for the NSRF by the end of the month.

With other funding sources not yet secured, the City says it will underwrite the project by $46 million in fear it misses out entirely with the Federal scheme, which did not fund any North West WA projects north of Geraldton in its first round.

Mayor Peter Long said until such time funding was finalised, the council had agreed to underwrite the project for the purpose of securing NSRF support.

“Council believes we have a strong case for NSRF funding, however if we are unsuccessful, we will need to determine what other funding sources we have before a decision can be made on how to move forward with the project,” he said.

While designs and planning for the precinct continue, another time factor is the lease of the current Karratha Library.

The City has long leased the facility at the Pilbara Institute but that lease runs out in 2017 and might not be renewed.

Mr Long said he hoped the City could secure funding early enough to start construction on the Karratha Arts and Community Precinct next year.

“(This) would ensure a fairly seamless transition from the current library to the new facility,” he said.

Time is against the City and it appears the community will go at least another two or three years without a theatre space after the demolition of the unusable Walkington Theatre earlier this year.

The new precinct would include an arts centre, gallery space, on outdoor event space with an amphitheatre, as well as a new library and space for the local history office.