Page 1766 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 2 May 2012
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I want to stress a couple of points which have been made in this report, and which I think all the committee made, particularly to Megalo. This was not at all, at any time, about impacting on Megalo’s reputation. I strongly refute any claims which are made to that effect. As I said, that point is made in the report, and it was made by the committee particularly when we went out and visited Megalo. We also have recognised in the report their contribution to the ACT. As I said earlier, they were very passionate, as were a number of witnesses and as were a number of submissions to the inquiry. As I will go to a bit later, the report makes two specific recommendations on the future of Megalo.
I would also like to draw attention and point to the time line which was put forward on the proposed construction of the facility at the Fitters Workshop for Megalo, which the committee considered was a significant issue. The committee drew a key conclusion from that. Information was given to Megalo regarding the time frame, which the committee believed, quite clearly, given the evidence that we heard, was not accurate. We heard information at consultations and from the Land Development Agency that construction would take at least 18 months. It is worth pointing out that regardless of this inquiry, so regardless of whether this inquiry was undertaken or not, a temporary solution for Megalo was going to have to be found. That became quite obvious throughout the process—that a temporary solution would have to be found from the government—as it did appear, quite clearly, that if this development had gone ahead there would not have been a Fitters Workshop this year.
I would like to refer to the five recommendations that are in the report. I will read them out. Recommendation 1 is:
The Committee recommends that the Fitters’ Workshop be used as a multi-use arts and performance venue.
Recommendation 2 is:
The Committee recommends that the Government suspend its decision to make the Fitters’ Workshop, Kingston a print studio to allow the current master planning process underway for the Kingston Arts Precinct to be re-opened incorporating the Fitters’ Workshop as a multi-use arts and performance venue.
Recommendation 3 is:
That the government respond to recommendation 1 within 30 days, giving a timetable and terms of reference for the consultation recommended by the Committee.
Recommendation 4 is:
The Committee recommends that the current decision to convert the Fitters’ Workshop for Megalo Print Studio be re-considered and that immediate steps be taken to identify an alternative site for a purpose-built building at the Kingston Arts Precinct.
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