2015-03-03 Infrastructure & Services Committee Agenda

INFRASTRUCTURE & SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                   3 MARCH 2015


A detailed assessment of each community proposal is contained in d-sipher’s full report to
Council, refer Attachment 1. A summary of the assessment appears below.

U3A NOOSA

U3A Noosa offers a convenient solution for Council with a single tenant that proposes to use the
space regularly and will administer the Butter Factory for use by other users.

U3A is well established community organisation and has a proven ability to deliver its programs.
This proposal would extend the programs and activities U3A Noosa currently offers from its
Tewantin facility. As the U3A would not use all of the building for their programs they are
proposing to work with other community organisations to incorporate other uses and schedule
the space for other users.

Of all the proposed concepts, this is the least strategic and most administrative based program
delivery model. The proposed model of management is not a best fit with community aspirations,
as the U3A are logically focused on their members and activities, rather than the broader
community. While there is scope for use by other organisations this is likely to be more reactive
to user enquiries and not realise the same outcomes as a proactive program driven option.

There would likely be a small cost or some initial support needed in assisting the group to
promote the Butter Factory and run some of the online systems as well as some minor building
modifications to enable multiple concurrent users.

Cooroy Lower Mill Board

The Cooroy Lower Mill Board is an established presence in the Cooroy community and has a
proven record for delivering on projects such as the Cooroy Fusion Festival.

In order to animate the Butter Factory, the Cooroy Lower Mill Board proposes to significantly
extend community use and involvement in the Butter Factory through extended opening hours,
cultural programs, events and other activities. It will also have a focus on generating income
through a membership fee structure (similar to Wallace House), a user pays system for hire of
rooms with the aim of recovering costs, other measures that they are considering include a
requirement for exhibiting artist to attend their own exhibitions as has been successfully trialled in
recent months.

The Lower Mill Board proposal most closely aligns with the community aspirations for the Butter
Factory with its over-arching, inclusive, community-driven approach that is encompassing of
other groups, arts, cultural, and other potential activities.

As indicated in their proposal, they would seek funding for the development of a business plan,
the establishment of online systems, communication and programming infrastructure and
ongoing program delivery as well as some minor building modifications to enable multiple
concurrent users.

While individual board members have facility management experience, the Lower Mill Board itself
has not managed a community facility.

This model could readily accommodate a number of the other community proposals, including
the U3A and the Centre for Ceramic Excellence.




                                                                                      Page 30 of 80