2020-09-08 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                            8 SEPTEMBER 2020


4                        THE J - FULL YEAR REPORT TO 30 JUNE 2020
DOCUMENT INFORM AT ION




Author                             The J & BCC Coordinator, Scott Braby
                                   Community Services Department

Index                              ECM/ Subject/ 72.01 The J

Attachments                        Nil



EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Not Applicable

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by The J & Bicentennial Community Centre Coordinator to the
Services & Organisation Committee meeting dated 8 September 2020, providing an update on
the activities of The J for the 2019/20 financial year.


REPORT
The purpose of this report is to advise Councillors of The J’s activities for the financial year
ending 30 June 2020.

The J continues to operate as a versatile, multi-use community venue. It hosts a wide range of
activities, performances and live entertainment. It is also home to current tenants the University
of the Sunshine Coast and Noosa Community Radio.

The J is the venue of choice for a number of community groups including Noosa Alive, Noosa
Chorale, Noosa Heads Jazz Club, Noosa Music Society, Alliance Françoise, STEPS, Hillsong
Church, USC–CIDSEL, Community Solutions, Community Focus, Noosa Film Society, CCIQ
Noosa and numerous school and commercial dance/theatre groups who conduct a range of
youth activities, performances, awards and presentation ceremonies.

The J’s theatre/auditorium capacity sits at 402 (including portable mezzanine seating for 64). The
mezzanine area continues to be regularly utilised by hirers to extend theatre capacity or as a
separate meeting space for up to 50 people. The J also offers a combination of additional flexible
meeting spaces, conference rooms and facilities for hire which are complemented by covered
outdoor areas and stylish open foyers.

1.                       FINANCE

The objective of all services within the Community Facilities branch is to balance the demands of
access, equity and community service obligations with sound financial management and to
improve revenue through innovative and entrepreneurial approaches, while at the same time
seeking to minimise operational costs.

It is important to note that COVID-19 had a significant impact on the financial performance of all
of Council’s community facilities in 2019/20, mainly because of the mandated centre closures
and associated loss of revenue from late March onwards. The impacts of this will be further
explored throughout this report.



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