Narooma will finally have the NACC

Narooma’s long awaited Arts & Community Centre (NACC) can now move forward thanks to additional funds being secured from the NSW and Australian Governments. It will be a totally new design to what was originally proposed.

“This is such fantastic news,” said Narooma School of Arts President Jenni Bourke. “The committee never gave up on delivering the community’s vision for this creative arts hub within available funds, while still delivering the same community benefits. We’re grateful for the community’s continuing faith in us.”

Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland said this additional Bushfire Local Economic Recovery (BLER) funding for Narooma School of Arts is “such welcome news”.

“I look forward to working with this committed group, in collaboration with Eurobodalla Shire Council, to get this capital works project completed for the Narooma community,” he said. “It will be a wonderful legacy for generations to come.”

Mrs Bourke explained that the NACC Project had stalled because considerable escalations in construction costs and supply shortages over the last two years made the original design prohibitively expensive, way more than the $7.27m BLER grant received over two years ago.

“No one could have foreseen such cost increases,” she said. “However after our initial disappointment, we’re now super excited for a new design that our community will use, love, and be proud to share.”

NSoA is currently preparing a Design Brief for a redesigned NACC and seeking Expressions of Interest from several architects.

The NACC is a community initiative on community-owned land with three multi-use studios/rooms and a large gallery. It will be a centre for creativity and learning with health and wellbeing benefits for the whole region, as well as economic benefits from cultural tourism, training and job opportunities. It will also play a vital role in any future emergencies.

The Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund project is jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Governments.

Photo Caption

Narooma School of Arts representatives met Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland last week to discuss the Narooma Arts & Community Centre Project. They are President Jenni Bourke, left, Rob Hawkins, Bob Aston and Laurelle Pacey.