Sunshine could have a new 350-seat auditorium within two years if a Brimbank council plan gets off the ground.
The Star Weekly can reveal exclusively that the council is considering converting two cinemas at Sunshine Market Place to an auditorium, which would host lectures, presentations, forums, conferences and performances.
It could also be directly accessed via the new Brimbank Community and Civic Centre in Sunshine, which is expected to open in June, 2016.
Council chairman John Watson said an auditorium of the proposed size was needed.
“Brimbank lacks a venue of this size. This is an exceptional opportunity to provide our community with a venue that can seat up to 350 people for cultural events and performances, while also invigorating economic activity in the Sunshine town centre.
“We are in discussions with Federation Centre, which owns the Market Place, and Village Cinema about the potential project.”
Council allocated $500,000 in its draft budget to begin design works for the auditorium.
“If our discussions are successful and the design work goes well we may be able to deliver this project around the same time as the new Brimbank Community and Civic Centre opens,” Mr Watson said.
“There is a lot of leg work to be done between now and then, but we certainly have an aspiration to deliver this project as soon as practicable.
“This project has the potential to deliver significant economic benefits to Brimbank and ongoing community benefits through offering improved access to cultural and artistic events.
“The civic centre and, we hope, this auditorium will significantly improve the Town Centre.
“Combined with works that will result following the adoption of the Hampshire Road Masterplan, the future really is bright.”
