community action - save burrinja

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See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.

Who are the three wise monkeys turning a blind eye?
Rudd, Albanese, Garrett?

Me and Cr Noel Cliff at the launch of Open Studios at Burrinja last week.

Burrinja launches a Night of

COMMUNITY ACTION to SAVE THEATRE

Burrinja and the local arts community come out fighting to save performing arts for the Dandenong Ranges. On this coming Thursday May 29, they’ll be holding the ‘Save our Theatre’ Night of Community Action at Burrinja.

I'll be there to show my support, the process used to assess the projects under the Regional Partnerships Program has been atrocious with valid, genuine projects like Burrinja getting the chop. It's a slap in the face to our community who have worked hard over many years to make sure this project gets off the ground.

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Sue-Ann Post, the local comedian with the national reputation, will host the program. The night promises to bring the community together to rally against the Federal Government’s decision to axe the Regional Partnership Program and renege on their promise of $2m to help redevelop the Burrinja cultural centre.

Among the special guest performers giving their time and talent to this great cause are Tracey Roberts, Dave McFarlane, Claptonesque, Michael Connell, musicians from the ‘Classics in the Café series’, Stax and more.

The night will include mystery appearances by "Kevin 07" and the "Federal Hatchet Man".

The night starts at 7pm and runs until around 10pm. Entry is by Donation, with all proceeds going to the performers and the funding action campaign.

budget cuts burrinja

The Federal budget had an extra sting in its tail when it was delivered last night. It saw the end of the Regional Partnerships Program (RPP) as the program "had fallen short of acceptable standard of public administration, particularly in relation to the assessment of grant applications and the management of funding agreements".

What this means to the proposed Burrinja Performing Arts Centre is a $2million cut from the Federal Government, a significant dent in the project's budget, without it the project will not be able to proceed.

It's disappointing that the audit process for the RPP did not reveal those applications that stood up to public scrutiny. This project was completely legitimate and supported by local and state government. To suggest a lack of acceptable standard of public administration in the case of Burrinja is outrageous, this project has had to jump through many, many hoops to progress to the $9.6million project it is.

I am angered by this decision, our community will be angered by this decision. This has been a long fought project, with many dedicated individuals contributing countless hours to input into its development. And what of the future generations who miss out on the opportunity to be part of a major cultural facility in the region?

Burrinja Performing Arts Centre will make a major contribution to the arts and cultural needs of the local community providing residents, schools and parents with a local major performing arts venue - to take this away from us is denying our community a very necessary facility.

I have no doubt our community will be up in arms when the news hits and I look forward to assisting them in the renewed battle to see this project back on track.