28 June 2010

Greens take a swing for McGregor Hall

| johnboy
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mcgregor hall

Greens spokesperson for Planning and Arts Caroline Le Couteur is asking difficult questions about why the ACT Government is destroying community amenity without replacing it:

In Question Time today the Greens pressed the Chief Minister over the squeeze on low cost community spaces in the city precinct.

“Mr Stanhope announced that the Government would not replace McGregor Hall. He also did not have an answer for what the Government was doing to solve the problems facing displaced community/music groups.“

“The ACT Government needs to commit to supporting these groups as they lose yet another venue. The Government also owes it to future music and community groups in Canberra who may never have the opportunity to establish themselves if there are no affordable and accessible spaces for them.”

“The Government now needs to assist these valuable groups to find new locations in appropriate locations. Given the dearth of adequate community venues, Canberra also needs the Government to create new venues, or to actively assist the community to set up new ones,” said Ms Le Couteur.

Maybe one day we’ll have an answer.

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rosscoact said :

when did the musos start using this place? My recollection is that their first gig at Macgregor hall was this year.

they seem to have grown inordinately fond of it in a couple of months.

I assume that it may be difficult to find a place where they are allowed to sell booze, pocket the proceeds and not pay rent.

I think you just described a live music venue without a commercial bottom line driving band bookings and lowering artist payment.

You are right – that’s hard to find. almost non-existant.

There are plenty of similar halls, but what sets this particular hall apart is it’s central location without the proximity to residential areas.

Speak to gypsy, toast, transit bar owners on the relevance of this factor.

when did the musos start using this place? My recollection is that their first gig at Macgregor hall was this year.

they seem to have grown inordinately fond of it in a couple of months.

I assume that it may be difficult to find a place where they are allowed to sell booze, pocket the proceeds and not pay rent.

As a bi-weekly user of McGregor Hall (that is I use McGregor hall twice a week) this is great news to hear. Although it may be too late to save it they should come up with some form of counter offer

Te Greens on this issue are making sense.

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