Rodney Stevens
The plans for the $13 million redevelopment of the Maclean Community Centre have been revealed and Clarence Valley Council is seeking community feedback on the contemporary concept that will change the aesthetic of River Street in the Scottish town.
The project began in 2017 when Clarence Valley Council CVC considered investigating options for the Maclean Community Precinct which was focused on delivering improved community services within the area through a unified space.
Between 2018 and March 2020 CVC engaged in community consultation about the project, before design concepts were presented to council in mid-2022.
The redevelopment of the Maclean Community Precinct comes as the existing Maclean Civic Hall needs extensive refurbishment to prolong its serviceable life and the new design will turn the venue into a cultural space of regional significance.
To meet heritage NSW requirements, Virtus Heritage was engaged by Complete Urban on behalf of council to complete a Heritage Impact Statement for the 48 River Street site, which included detailed historical research of the hall and assessment of significance including liaising with the Maclean District Historical Society, Eisteddfod Committees and the Maclean Music Academy, to document social, historical and associative significance.
“The issue has remained that the current Hall is unsuitable for its primary purpose, as a community hall,” said the Heritage Impact Statement.
“There were so many changes that needed to be made for access to the building, to the stage area, audience seating and especially the acoustics, which were reportedly unsatisfactory.”
The plans currently on public exhibition for the Maclean Community Precinct show a two-level building with a tiered auditorium designed to seat 288 people, which has been designed to enhance the Maclean CBD and connection to the Clarence River.
Featuring a larger performance and backstage space, a kitchen and a café/bar to cater for events, a large covered deck area with river views, a box office space, two multi-purpose rooms, foyer with gallery space for display of artworks, audio visual control room, basement car park for 40 cars and an elevator connecting the car park to ground level, the new premises will be entered from the southern side of River Street.
A ‘new and vibrant’ public outdoor space featuring informal seating, new pathways and a terraced amphitheatre will be located between the council offices and the precinct.
“In addition to opening up the site and providing a greater connection to the Clarence River, the open space, notably the amphitheatre, will cater for outdoor events such as informal performances, ceremonies, cinema nights, and other activities,” council documents state.
The Development Application DA for the redevelopment of the Maclean Community Precinct and demolition of the current building is on public exhibition until 4pm on July 3, 2023.
Council welcomes submissions from members of the community and industry stakeholders, and people making submissions a reminded they are not confidential and considered public documents.
Submissions can be made by visiting https://www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/Building-and-planning/Advertised-DAs/DA20230300-48-River-Street-Maclean and clicking ‘make a submission’.