2015-09-15 Infrastructure and Services Committee Att 1 to Item 4 The J Business Plan 2015-18

In recent years, The J has largely functioned as a passive enabler of activities and events,
providing venue hire and ticketing services for others. This role is clearly valued by the
community and meets a need for a facility for community and cultural activity.

The J’s proactive role in generating cultural and economic outcomes has been limited due
to budget and staffing constraints.

The table below summarises current and potential situations for these activity types.

Service type                    Current                             Potential

Venue hire –                    Currently about 70% of hours        There is some potential to
meetings and                    booked in the venue are for this    increase utilisation of meeting
workshops                       purpose (including church           rooms and alternative spaces,
                                sessions)                           recognising the inability to use
                                                                    some spaces simultaneously due
                                                                    to design constraints.

Venue hire -                    About 20% of hours booked in the    There is potential to increase
performances                    venue are for performances          usage of the theatre for
                                (including youth activities).       performances at commercial
                                                                    rates by targeting promoters
                                Performances tend to generate
                                                                    and touring performers.
                                more revenue than other types
                                of uses because of associated
                                charges such as equipment and
                                staffing hire. However care is
                                needed to ensure profitability.

Entrepreneured                  Events initiated by The J           A small amount of seed funding
performances and                represent a very small              in 2015-16 will enable The J to
events                          component of activity               initiate some cultural activity to
                                                                    boost the venue’s role as a
                                                                    cultural centre for Noosa.

Ticketing                       Ticketing commissions generate      The Service Review flags the
                                10% of revenue currently. If the    need for a review of ticketing
                                Noosa Food and Wine Festival        systems to reduce cost to users
                                does not go ahead, a significant    and increase competitiveness.
                                shortfall in revenue will occur.

Leasing                         Leasing to USC represents a         Negotiations are well under way
                                significant, stable income stream   to lock in leasing arrangements
                                and a generator of traffic and      for the next ten years.
                                profile for the centre.
                                Leasing to community radio is at
                                a very significantly discounted
                                rate

Other                           Kitchen hire by market stall        There is further potential to
                                holders and small catering          hire out the kitchen during off-
                                businesses has increased            peak times.




The J Business Plan 2015-2018                                                                          17