THE ideal Coffs Harbour Entertainment Venue (CHEV) has been revealed to be a multi-functional hub that can accommodate an audience of up to 820 people in a flexible, inclusive space for a wide variety of performances and events including music, dance, comedy, theatre, movies, conferences, expos and more.

These details have been revealed in the Coffs Harbour Entertainment Venue Scoping Study – Functional Brief, which is the second stage of a two-stage cultural infrastructure project which provides a needs analysis and feasibility recommendations for a larger indoor entertainment venue for the region.

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Stage One was the Issues and Options Paper for Performing Arts Spaces (Indoor and Outdoor) Final Report which identified an established need for the construction of an Indoor Performing Arts Centre with a capacity between 600-1000 seats within the Coffs Harbour City Centre.

Coffs Harbour City Council resolved on 10 September 2020 to adopt the Issues and Options Paper for Performing Arts Spaces (Indoor and Outdoor) Final Report and resolved to commence to the Stage 2(b) Feasibility Study to determine the venue functions and size, most suitable City Centre location, and an operational and financial model for an Indoor Performing Arts Centre.

The Coffs Harbour Entertainment Venue Scoping Study – Functional Brief informs the next stage, which is the analysis of a site within the City Centre area to house the future Coffs Harbour Entertainment Venue.

One venue to be analysed is Council’s administration building and Council chambers in Castle Street, Coffs Harbour, which Council chose not to sell in July for $7.25m to fund the $81m Cultural and Civic Space project until the site was assessed as a potential entertainment venue.

The site analysis stage is expected to be undertaken early next year, following the Coffs Harbour Local Government election in December.

The Functional Brief recommends an entertainment venue 2,500 square metres in size to allow for a flexible performance space which can accommodate a variety of performance configurations, including a 700-pax theatre (approximately 450 in stalls and 250 balcony seating), a 450-pax theatre in intimate mode (without the use of balcony seating), a 820-pax performance space with a combination of fixed seating and flat floor standing, and a 150-pax flat floor Performance/Dinner/Cabaret space.

The venue will be designed to attract and accommodate a range of uses including major dance performances, school events and graduation ceremonies, touring theatre productions, live music concerts, touring commercial comedy and musical shows, symphonic and classical chamber music, dinner and cabaret events, community theatre and musicals, community and civic events, and conferencing formats.

“The CHEV would be far more than simply a fantastic entertainment venue, it would also be a place that will reveal and nurture our local talent, create diverse job opportunities and be an economic driver for our local creative industries,” Coffs Harbour Mayor Councillor Denise Knight said.

“This project will give our youth the chance to experience performance on a whole new level, both on the stage and in the audience, bring new opportunities for the City Centre and attract visitors to the region.”

A Council report stated that the CHEV design “would ensure that touring acts and local performing arts companies have a high quality venue for their performances”.

“The recommended venue size is considered viable to draw a larger range of touring acts and performances,” the report stated.

The Coffs Harbour Entertainment Venue Scoping Study – Functional Brief states that the new entertainment venue should aim to recreate the feeling of importance the area’s former Town Hall had, with the new building being “a focal point for community and cultural activity”.

“A place where the community can gather to celebrate, where young people are provided with opportunities and where the best of Australia and the world has a place to perform,” the study stated.

The Functional Brief also recommends front of house spaces including a foyer area, box office and bar/kiosk as well as back of house spaces including a green room, rehearsal room, office space, meeting room and dressing rooms.

It is anticipated that construction of a new indoor entertainment venue will take approximately six years to plan and build and cost between $50m to $60m, with operational costs estimated between $600,000 and $2m per year.

Construction and operational costs will be considered in Council’s future planned budgets or Council’s long term financial plan.

The Functional Brief document and more information about the CHEV Scoping Study project stages can be viewed on Council’s Have Your Say website at https://haveyoursay.coffsharbour.nsw.gov.au/entertainmentvenue1.

By Emma DARBIN