Supporters of the Daylesford Community Theatre have vowed to continue the fight to maintain the cinema’s position in The Rex Arcade despite a council ruling last week all-but sealing its fate.
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The recommendation from Hepburn Shire chief executive Aaron van Egmond to seek an alternative home for the cinema outside of The Rex was passed unanimously by council at a meeting in Creswick last week.
A number of questions and speeches were made from the floor of the meeting in support of the cinema.
The council had been investigating the possibility of creating a third floor in The Rex for the cinema, however this was ruled out after being deemed too expensive. Council anticipated construction to cost $600,000.
Loretta Little was the convener of the original cinema group which established the community theatre and has continued to be an advocate for the community-run facility.
She said she feared for the future of the cinema if it was to be shifted outside of The Rex.
“We worked very hard to physically build the cinema and it’s a community asset and if it’s moved from The Rex it will die,” Ms Little said. “We’re not asking for any money, we’re just asking council to let us stay where we are.”
Council is currently working with the cinema group to search for a temporary home for the facility while works are undertaken on refurbishing The Rex to turn it into the new shire hub.
The cinema group will be required to vacate their current space within The Rex by April 18.
Daylesford Community Theatre president Gina Lyons said while the group was exploring the possibility of setting up a temporary home in the Daylesford Town Hall, they were still a long way from cementing a permanent home.
“I believe (the council has) heard loud and clear how important the cinema is to the community, but whether the councillors also believe that I’m not sure,” Ms Lyons said.
“It’s not like a gift shop where you can simply pack up and move because cinemas are particular spaces and the best thing for us would be to just leave it.”
As well as proposing to remain in the current location the cinema group also floated the idea of shifting the cinema to the Daylesford Library, however it is not favoured by either party.
Speaking at the council meeting Hepburn Shire mayor Sebastian Klein said despite voting to relocate the cinema out of The Rex, councillors understood the importance of the facility to the community and were committed to finding a permanent solution.