Coffs Harbour Cultural and Civic Space

I have followed the project for a long time. There has been a lot of consultation, though many people have not taken notice of it and have been stirred up by vested interests who prefer development elsewhere so so have few of the details of the case. Coffs Harbour CBD needs revitalisation and I do believe this is a great project for us and that, just as in the Shoalhaven example, people will only truly realise the benefits once it is built. It will be a showcase and also move the library and museum from inadequate locations. I park in the city several times a week and have never been unable to find a parking space so I believe that argument is incorrect and with the CEX taking on a larger auditorium our entertainment needs are also catered for. Please assist our Mayor in getting this project through as I fear if it is quashed then no council will have the guts to do something this innovative for a very long time which would be very sad for Coffs Harbour.

The so called Cultural and Civic Space is not the answer to the needs of this community. We do not need to spend Millions of dollars to build another Council Chambers. The public have long called for a cultural/ performance space in this city and this is not where the money is being spent.
There is provision for two more stories to be added to the present council chambers which would add for more floor space than the new project would provide.
There is land available on City Hill , a site of 26 acres , and has been set aside for decades for this purpose. There is room for a Cultural Space/ Art Gallery and an entertainment centre with plenty of parking for cars and buses.Those who think that it is too far out of town, (approximately 1 kilometre from the centre of town) need remember that in years to come as the city expands this site will be almost at the centre of town.
My foremost complaint is that to spend $76, 000,000 on a building stuck in the middle of commercial buildings and backed up to an ugly carparking station is not great planning. A building like this should be placed so that its splendour could be enjoyed from every facet. To me this is like spending millions of dollars on a diamond and setting it is papier-mache!

My commemt is that many years ago I participated in a survey about what I though Coffs Harbour needed.
The number one thing I felt and still do, was that Coffs Harbour needed an large entertainment venue.
I agreed with most other things in the survey.
At no point would I have supported new council offices near the city centre. I have always thought that the council offices should be well away from the city.
I don't belive the quetion was asked!
I believe that the data from that survey has been manipulated to suit an agenda, to get this project off the ground.
I also feel that for that amout of money to be spent on rehousing public servants from offices that were buit with the ability to be expanded into a building that will require selling the existing offices to assist financing and still burden the council with a considerable debt. Which I feel will blowout if any other government project is used as a guide!
I feel a project this large and controversial should go before a council ellection.
This project may well become Coffs Harbours version of the Port Macquarie Glass house!

Community consultation was inadequate and did not relate to the design now being presented in that new Council offices and Council chambers were not part of the original proposal and therefore fails the community consultation requirement.
That only half of the community elected Councillors voted in favour of the current proposal confirms the majority of the community do not support the proposal. This is evidenced in that approximately 15,000 residents signed a petition against proceeding with the current proposal. Council has chosen to ignore this petition.
Council has not justified the need for new Council offices and Council chambers which fails to meet B3 Commercial Zone to provide a suitable land use that serves the needs of the local and wider community
The current cost estimate of $76.5M is significantly greater than first presented to the community which has serious concerns for the ongoing financial viability of Council finances. Council's limited financial strength was demonstrated in 2015 when it required IPart approval to increase rates by more than 20% over 3 years.
Council's current financial position remains limited in that it has to sell 4 public buildings to release $20M to part fund this proposal.
Council has been unable to provide credible evidence that the cost of this proposal will not compromise ongoing essential capital works and services, placing a significant burden on future generations.

To the Coffs Harbour city council great decision on Coffs Harbour Cultural and civic space. Applaud the forward thinking and well thought out plan.

I strongly object to the proposal on the grounds that:

(1) There has been insufficient community consultation on the planning and development of this project in its current form.

(2) There has been insufficient community consultation on the costings and funding of this project in its current form.

(3) There has been insufficient community consultation on the sale of community owned assets to fund this proposal.

(4) The sparse community consultation that has been undertaken by council on and off since 2013 for a new cultural space always included a performing art space with no mention of new council offices and council chambers being included in the proposal.

(5) The inclusion of new council offices and council chambers was only introduced in recent times and with very limited public consultation and most Coffs Harbour residents were not apprised of the change until four councillors out of eight resolved to approve the proposal on 8 August 2019 and the news was reported in the local newspaper.

(6) The naming of this proposed development as "Coffs Harbour Cultural and Civic Space" is a misnomer and probably designed to fool the community insofar that it is ostensibly a council administration building and council chambers with a museum, library and art gallery on a lower level.

(7) The proposed museum, library and art gallery in the proposed building on Gordon Street will actually be smaller in floor area than the floor area in the buildings that house them presently.

(7) The Coffs Harbour City Council resolution to approve the proposal on 8 August 2019 was undemocratic insofar that it was a tied vote between eight sitting councillors and instead of maintaining the status quo, the Mayor chose to approve the proposal with a second casting vote which is not in the spirit of the Westminster parliamentary system of government.

(8) The inclusion of council offices and chamber in the proposal negates any funding of the project by way of government grants.

(9) The proposed site is inappropriate for such a building as it is already far too congested with vehicular traffic without this proposed edifice and its inclusion will add chaos to the already heavy daily traffic in this precinct.

(10) The size and design of this building does not conform with the surrounding building infrastructure.

(11) The amount of reflective glass on the structure and the resulting heat and glare will be hazardous to pedestrians and drivers of motor vehicles on sunny days.

(12) The design of this proposed structure with a mainly glass facade will be very costly to clean and maintain further burdening ratepayers.

(13) There is insufficient public car parking during business hours already in this precinct and the proposed onsite car parking will mainly be used by council vehicle and council staff vehicles during business hours.

(14) There are many more appropriate sites for a new cultural and civic space than on Gordon Street such as City Hill which was bequeathed to the people of Coffs Harbour by the NSW State Government for this very purpose. Such a development of the scale necessary to house a futureproof, functional and much needed performing arts space, museum and art gallery on this site will leave a fitting legacy to future generations of Coffs Harbour who will carry the burden of this massive investment. This surely far outweighs investing an equal amount of community funds on new council buildings which are not needed as the existing structurally sound council building is still very functional and was originally built with the option of adding more floor space with additional levels on top of the existing building. Indeed, the bricks have been stored at a council depot for 30 years for this very purpose. Other council-owned and occupied buildings such as Rigby House, and Coffs Harbour Museum have been extensively renovated in recent years and have many years of useful life left.

(15) Throughout this planning process the CHCC executive has shown appalling conduct by dismissing any opposition to its proposal and indeed the General Manager himself was recorded during debate in the council chambers whispering instructions to the Mayor of a coarse of action to obstruct a motion being put forward by an elected councillor to review the project's approval. Such interference is a far cry from a GMs statutory role as impartial advisor to all councillors and should warrant his dismissal. This recording was aired on Ray Hadley's radio show in August 2019.

I trust you will give due consideration to the fifteen points that I have raised above in you deliberations.

I am opposed to this project because:
1. Lack of Community Consultation
I consider myself to be reasonably well informed about local matters. I am a member of the Board of Volunteering Coffs Harbour Inc. that operates from the local Neighbourhood Centre. I am also a member of the Coffs Bypass Action Group and was shortlisted as a candidate for that project’s Community Consultative Committee. I subscribe to and regularly read two local newspapers and I am active in three community Facebook groups.
As a regular user of the library, but with little interest in other things “cultural”, I was aware of plans to shift the Library and Art Gallery to other premises. However, in mid 2019, I learned that the proposal was to incorporate new council offices and chambers. It was then that my concerns were first raised. I soon learned that, whilst this project had been planned for several years, there have been substantial recent changes in scope, cost and funding.
Despite these concerns, echoed by 50% of our elected representatives to the Council (and soon after a petition with over 14,000 signatures from this community), the decision to proceed was rammed through on the casting vote of the Mayor. I believe that this is not only unwise and unsafe but also undemocratic.
Before this project proceeds one step further it needs to be the subject of a Public Hearing.
2. Unknown and Escalating Costs
Plans for a performing arts centre and other community cultural activities began in 2014 with a cost estimate of $20-25 million. The current estimated cost is in excess of $76 million. One very worrying aspect of this was a decision by Council to comprehensively evaluate the cost and funding of the project AFTER it had decided to proceed. There is no prospect of Federal or State government funding, very little prospect of any revenue from the completed project, building maintenance costs are potentially large and no guarantee that the Council’s funding model can be realized. What is currently most disturbing is the possibility of irreversible and below-market sales of other council assets to fund this project, sales conducted with reckless haste that arises from an urgency to proceed before anyone or anything can stop this project.
3. Failure to Provide what is Needed
The project was initiated because of a perceived need for a performing arts centre in this city. This is not a part of the currently proposed project. However, the project does incorporate space for council staff and chambers but nobody has satisfactorily explained to me why this is necessary (other than that the current facilities will be sold to provide part funding for the project).
4. It May Contravene Local Environmental and Development Control Plans
Whilst I am sympathetic to the need to centralize community cultural, civic and business activities and avoid urban sprawl with its inevitable cost to the environment, this project may be contravening the Council’s own restrictions on building height as well as parking requirements and space for landscaping, outdoor public use etc. I am no architect but it seems like a big footprint given the space and environs available.
A .pdf version of this submission is attached

Lack of Community Consultation
Original proposal included Performing Arts Venue, not Council Chambers which replaced the Performing Arts space (April 2016) without public consultation.
Coffs Council ignored ratepayers petition now nearing 15,000 signatures.
Cr. Adendorff's conflict of interest?
Mayor abusing her casting vote.
Council forcing the building progress.
No apparent tender - probity of architect selection.
Building contravenes the purposes of the Commercial B3 zone.
Building exceeds Council's own height restrictions.
Minimal Museum, marginally improved Art Gallery & Library facilities.
Constricted location with poor access.
No growth capacity.
Limited community benefit.
Inadequate local parking.
Insufficient on-site tenant and visitor parking.
Application is 37 parking spaces short of DCP requirements.
No consideration for increase in CBD traffic movements.
Escalating project cost .
Maintenance costs?
Project is no income producing.
Council's financing plan indicates incapacity. Requires sale of 4 public properties for $20M, without community consent, in order to reduce debt level.
Will burden this and future generations of the community with massive rate hikes.
No consideration for future flooding given increasing frequency and severity of storm events.

Lack of community consultation. This major project should have been taken to the next local election.
Council offices are replacing the Performing Arts space without public consultation.
Ignored public petition now nearing 15,000 signatures.
Mayor abusing casting vote.
Council forcing the building progress.
Cr. Adendorff conflict of interest.
Building contravenes local environment plan.
Constricted location with poor access.
Scale of building out of context with surrounding area, exceeds Council's own height restrictions.
No growth capacity.
Limited community benefit that could not be addressed with other options.
Inadequate local parking.
Insufficient visitor and tenant parking.
Significant increase in CBD traffic with no consideration for future traffic movements.
Considerable maintenance costs and project is not income producing.
Financing plan requires the sale of 4 public properties without community consent.
Proposed financing would cost the community $66M over 30 years by which time the building will be obsolete.
Project financing and maintenance will burden future generations.
No consideration for future flooding given increasing frequency and severity of storm events.

There project is just providing office space for CHCC and some consolidation for the library and art gallery.
There is no performance space to replace that which was lost many years ago in swap deals with Cex and Education Campus.

I Object to the Project. I do not deny that Coffs Harbour needs a new Library, Art Gallery and Museum, just not all worked into the one multi purpose building, along with all the other uses intended by the Coffs Harbour City Council Project. The site of this Project was originally looked at for a new dedicated Library and Art Gallery and if the Project had of been left at that, I and others may have supported the Project. However in it's current multipurpose guise, the Project is not supported by the Community.

The Location being included in a busy section of the CBD is very inadequate for all of the Projects functions. While we are led to believe the Project will revitalise the CBD of Coffs Harbour and bring people into the CBD, this is a false prediction. Currently the Library, Art Gallery, Civic Space are already in the CBD, leaving the Museum alone to bring the extra hordes of people into the CBD of Coffs Harbour.

The location is already a very busy section of the Coffs Harbour CBD and while being planned next to a multi story car park, this car park is already full each day, providing no additional car parking for the intended people attending the Multi Function Centre. Further what car parking is there, does not accommodate those tourist with larger vehicles or already towing to be able to park and attend the Multi Function Centre. What this results in is a location that is not friendly to attend. As a 'local' of Coffs Harbour I have taken a number of friends to various locations around Coffs Harbour and we enjoy the availability of useful car parking and easy pedestrian access to the various locations around Coffs Harbour, especially those that have mobility issues.

As my partner has mobility issues this is something of great significance to us. Mobiltiy access very quickly defines our entry or not. At present this Project does not appear to be Mobility friendly, not just with parking but with the layout of the Project. Mobility Parking in Coffs Harbour is already a separate issue but with very limited Mobility Parking in the existing adjacent car park and only street parking offered in Gordon Street, Mobility Parking is an issue for this Project. The Centre itself, being a Multi Function Centre is further compounds Mobility Access with a Multi Level Design such as the Library. Where there are elevators, at times the constant need to change levels to access what you want greatly detracts from the experience. Something an able body person does not understand. A single level approach is Mobility Friendly compared to a Multi Level Multi Function Project.

In trying to 'sell' the Project the the local community the Mayor and Council have compared this Project to other similar Cultural and Civic Spaces at different Councils. The one glaring difference is each comparison is simply the location. Coffs harbour City Council has opted for a busy street location within the CBD while each alternate is set on a much larger open area of land, some offering park like settings in the approach to the building or adjacent to the building. This Project is with it's multi funcitons, Library, Art Gallery, Museum, Cultural Centre and Civic Centre etc, is set onto a Streetscape with very little to no area for ambience or peaceful surround to enjoy or immerse oneself into what the Project offers.

Historically a parcel of land that currently falls just outside the CBD of Coffs Harbour was sold and bought for the sole purpose of being used as a Cultural and Civic Space. This area is known as City Hill. City Hill was identified many years ago and plans drawn up for a future Cultural and Civic Space set within a Park land setting. Currently the land is only used by the National Cartoon Gallery, previously know at the Bunker Cartoon Gallery. City Hill is a large parcel of land with sufficient area for individual Library, Art Gallery, Museum (a full museum, not just the small token museum offered in this Project), Cultural Centre, Aboriginal and Non Aboriginal Heritage Centres, Performing Acts/Entertainment Centre all provided with dedicated parking for all types of vehicles, including areas for vehicle/caravan combinations, buses, taxis as well as other conventional car parks. Included is sufficient Mobility Park at each Centre.

All of this can be provided in a park land setting and with clever outdoor extension of the Centres and displays, people can immerse themselves into the displays and the park lands, enjoying the ambience and surrounds as one should be allowed to. For all that can be said to be grand about the current Coffs Harbour Cultural and Civic Space, so much more can be gained and improved by a better location, a location that was purposefully established for this Project.

I appreciate money needs to be spent to build the facilitates required, I have no objection to that. What I do oppose is the inclusion of the Civic Space to the Project, primarily discussed for a dedicated Library and Art Gallery which then grew to be an all in one building which means the Council can not access State and Federal funding to build a Library, Art Gallery, Museum, Performing Arts Centre, Cultural Centre etc. The projected costing of this Project, regardless of the claims by the Mayor and Councillors, does place a burden of every rate payer, maybe not directly but it will indirectly when other future works need to be done.

Our Council is not doing the best job for the Community and need to reconsider this Project to delivery the best Cultural and Civic Space to Coffs Harbour.

I support the decision to build a cultural centre in the centre of Coffs harbour to rejuvenate the city and support local art and community engagement.

State Significant Development Application Number SSD-10300.
Coffs Harbour Cultural and Civic Space.
I object to this proposal and desire and request that a public hearing be held.
The reasons why I object to this proposal are:
1. The location of the building being in a commercial part of the CBD and restricted access to open landscaping or parkland.
2. The location of the building on a street other than a major road linking the CBD to other significant parts of the Local Government Area.
3. The 3 storey element creating the need for costly expenditure on such things as lifts, fire stairs, formwork, scaffolding, cranes and external maintenance and cleaning.
4. Inadequate parking internally and externally.
5. Congestion of travel modes to and from and within the vicinity of the development.
6. It is not in the public interest as it is not economically sustainable providing for unnecessary office space for Council staff and does not provide for the best and highest use of public land.
7. It provides for unnecessary office space for Council and therefore fails to meet an objective of the B3 Commercial Core Zone to ‘provide a suitable land use that serves the needs of the local and wider community’.
8. It duplicates existing Council office space and thus falls short of the objective of the B3 Commercial Core Zone to ‘encourage employment opportunities in accessible locations’.
9. It is disruptive to the streetscape rhythm in that it is out of character with the nearby development, provides an unsafe arcade and fails to meet the objective of the B3 Commercial Core Zone to ‘ensure that the design of new commercial buildings makes a positive contribution to the streetscape through opportunities for improved pedestrian links, retention and creation of view corridors and the provision of a safe public domain’.
10. It conflicts with the streetscape in Gordon Street in that the proposed building is outside the context of this street having regard to the scale, existing street setbacks, design and general form of the adjoining buildings.
11. It will have a profoundly adverse impact upon the heritage significance of the adjoining Uniting Church in that the building’s bulk, mass and general design ignore that significance.
12. It does not meet the safer by design principles and guidelines as it provides a covered arcade between Riding Land and Gordon Street that jumbles territorial space, provides cover for potential criminal activity and prevents good surveillance.
13. It exceeds the height limit of 28 m. set down by Council and an exception is not justified.
14. Council has at its disposal, an alternative site specifically obtained from NSW Government for the purpose of siting the city's cultural facilities. This site is within a significant area of parkland. Building at this site would alleviate many of the issues mentioned above.

In the past two years I have not made any reportable political donations.

Yours sincerely
Kristene Maguire

The project is over ambitious. The costings are dubious and I suspect will inflate considerably before the project is completed. I understand that this project has not been fully costed.The visitor numbers to the facility are beyond belief and must include visitors to the existing facilities and city generally. I make no observation on the design save to say that existing surrounding buildings detract from the modernistic effect of anything to be erected on the chosen site and the surroundings are not likely to be redeveloped any time soon. The existing council offices offer ample scope for extension if the council really need that space and the proposed expenditure is not justified for what is proposed to be substantially council chambers and offices. The ratepayers are already heavily burdened and do not support this extravagant project.

State Significant Development Application Number SSD-10300.
Coffs Harbour Cultural and Civic Space.
I object to this proposal and desire and request that a public hearing be held.
The reasons why I object to this proposal are:
1. The location of the building being in a commercial part of the CBD and restricted access to open landscaping or parkland.
2. The location of the building on a street other than a major road linking the CBD to other significant parts of the Local Government Area.
3. The 3 storey element creating the need for costly expenditure on such things as lifts, fire stairs, formwork, scaffolding, cranes and external maintenance and cleaning.
4. Inadequate parking internally and externally.
5. Congestion of travel modes to and from and within the vicinity of the development.
6. It is not in the public interest as it is not economically sustainable providing for unnecessary office space for Council staff and does not provide for the best and highest use of public land.
7. It provides for unnecessary office space for Council and therefore fails to meet an objective of the B3 Commercial Core Zone to ‘provide a suitable land use that serves the needs of the local and wider community’.
8. It duplicates existing Council office space and thus falls short of the objective of the B3 Commercial Core Zone to ‘encourage employment opportunities in accessible locations’.
9. It is disruptive to the streetscape rhythm in that it is out of character with the nearby development, provides an unsafe arcade and fails to meet the objective of the B3 Commercial Core Zone to ‘ensure that the design of new commercial buildings makes a positive contribution to the streetscape through opportunities for improved pedestrian links, retention and creation of view corridors and the provision of a safe public domain’.
10. It conflicts with the streetscape in Gordon Street in that the proposed building is outside the context of this street having regard to the scale, existing street setbacks, design and general form of the adjoining buildings.
11. It will have a profoundly adverse impact upon the heritage significance of the adjoining Uniting Church in that the building’s bulk, mass and general design ignore that significance.
12. It does not meet the safer by design principles and guidelines as it provides a covered arcade between Riding Land and Gordon Street that jumbles territorial space, provides cover for potential criminal activity and prevents good surveillance.
13. It exceeds the height limit of 28 m. set down by Council and an exception is not justified.
14. Council has at its disposal, an alternative site specifically obtained from NSW Government for the purpose of siting the city's cultural facilities. This site is within a significant area of parkland. Building at this site would alleviate many of the issues mentioned above.

In the past two years I have not made any reportable political donations.

Yours Sincerely
Terence Maguire

I support the Civic Centre being built in town.

This project has been a long time coming. It will revitalise the CBD and add to the cultural life of Coffs Harbour, important in any society for growth & development.
I have followed it since it inception. The Coffs Harbour Council have done due diligence. It is well planned and the process has been transparent throughout.
We look forward to work commencing and the project being finished so we can enjoy the Museum, Art Gallery and Library all in one place as well as the conveniently located Council Chambers, all in a beautiful building. We are lagging behind other Regional Cities in this cultural area. Great work to all involved. Lets get this done!

This project has been stringently assessed and thoroughly scrutinised before chcc decided to proceed. It's construction will make an enormous statement about the strength and belief our council has in our future, and will most certainly encourage investment in the region. The town of Coffs Harbour is growing into the 'city' of Coffs Harbour; we have several major infrastructure projects commencing in 2020 all of which supports council's decision to build this beautiful building. Coffs Harbour is transitioning from a struggling regional town into a dynamic and prosperous regional city. This building is appropriate and time right - it should be fully supported by the state government.