Local artist and businessman Mal Barnes is thrilled the Bega Valley Regional Gallery will be remaining in Bega.
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“It’s a good win for the Bega community and the Chamber of Commerce that fought for it,” Mr Barnes said after speaking at Wednesday’s council meeting.
“There was a lot of angst leading up to the decision, but a lot of people were celebrating (Wednesday) afternoon.”
Mr Barnes said moving the gallery outside of Bega would have been a kick in the teeth for the town.
“It was so out of the blue and unexpected,” he said.
“It’s obvious a large part of the local art community is in the northern end of the shire.”
He also pointed to the easy access for many schools.
“There are six schools that can take their kids there, which is in walking distance,” Mr Barnes said.
Councillors voted to endorse Bega as the preferred location of the Bega Valley Regional Gallery after a motion was moved by Crs Russell Fitzpatrick and Tony Allen at Wednesday’s ordinary meeting.
The motion moved that council officers undertake the required due diligence on a number of Bega sites and report to council prior to preparing a detailed submission to Create NSW’s Regional Cultural Fund based on the preferred location.
Bega won out against sites in Merimbula, Bermagui and Eden following a report that suggested council needed to identify a site in order to progress a potential funding opportunity in round one of the fund, the first step in the funding application process.
The consultation pointed to redeveloping the BVRG in its current location or redeveloping it at a new site in either Bega or Merimbula areas, with consequences associated with both options.
Almost half (48 per cent) of the 814 respondents to the BVRG development survey, who felt the location would influence their visitation, backed a move to remain at the current site in Bega.
A further 14 per cent wanted to see it at a different site in Bega, compared to Merimbula (29 per cent), Eden (five per cent) and Bermagui (three per cent).
Fifty-nine per cent of total respondents were aged over 55 years of age.
There were more than 1000 comments made by survey respondents reflecting a broad range of concerns and ideas.
Comments related to accessibility, centrality in the shire and links with tourism.