Poll stage set

By Paul Pickering
EMERALD Secondary College’s long-coveted performing arts centre is set to become a reality if the Coalition Government is re-elected on 24 November.
La Trobe MP Jason Wood dangled the sizeable pre-election carrot in front of the hills community last Thursday, committing to contribute $2.5 million to the project if his party can pull off an election upset.
Emerald Secondary College principal Wayne Burgess conceded that he had thought there might be some commitment made by the Federal Government but said he was overwhelmed by the $2.5 million figure.
“I’d been told there was a chance of getting $1.5 million but the final figure was a real surprise,” he said last Thursday.
“It was one of the most pleasant surprises I’ve ever had.”
Plans for the facility were originally drawn up in late 2005 before the proposal was momentarily shelved to make sure the school’s lobbying did not jeopardise the GEMCO group’s bid for State Government funding for its own performance space.
In August this year, the project was re-costed at $2.7 million.
Mr Burgess said the federal funding would mean the school would not have to rely on a cash injection from the State Government, with the school council committing to chip-in the extra $200,000.
Both Mr Burgess and Mr Wood were keen to emphasise that the facility would be used by the school – for events such as productions, concerts, presentation nights and assemblies – as well as a range of local community groups.
“We are committed to it being a community-based facility,” Mr Burgess said.
“The school council has made a commitment to ensuring that it is available for community use 300 nights a year.”
Among the groups that will benefit from the project will be the Emerald Centre of Hope and Outreach (ECHO) – which formally endorsed the school’s funding application in order to ensure that it qualified under the Government’s Regional Partnerships scheme.
Mr Wood said he hoped the funding would help to engage young people in constructive projects like Emerald Secondary College’s renowned Rock Eisteddfod performances.
“With the severe lack of public transport and innovative activities for young people to take part in through the hills, this facility will encourage a greater participation in the arts and an outlet for young people,” he said.
While Mr Burgess acknowledged that the re-election proviso meant the school could not celebrate just yet, he said it was a fitting reward for the work put into developing the proposal.
“It’s an important stepping stone because we’ve gone from having a proposal and no funding to having some really good possibilities,” he said.
“We know it’s not 100 per cent guaranteed but we’re incredibly grateful for the time and effort Jason has put in.”
The response from La Trobe’s Labor candidate Rodney Cocks provided similar optimism for the project.
While Mr Cocks could not make any assurances that a Labor Government would fund the project, he said he had already spoken with Mr Burgess about the proposal.
“It is a much-needed facility and it would be a great piece of infrastructure which could be used by not only students but the wider community,” he said.