Drama unfolds

By Casey Neill and Tania Martin
THE Shire of Yarra Ranges and local MPs have vowed to fight to have federal government funding for Burrinja’s performing arts centre reinstated.
But councillor Noel Cliff said the shire was partly to blame for the funding loss.
He said it did not work hard enough to get the final go ahead on the project.
“We have failed badly, I’m embarrassed for our part in it,” he said.
“We did not persist in rattling the cages of Canberra. It’s been a total disgrace.”
The Federal Government pledged $2 million for a Performing Arts Centre at Burrinja Cultural Centre in August last year under the Regional Partnerships program.
The Rudd government announced last week as part of its 2008-09 budget that this program had been cancelled, along with any projects which were not finalised.
“This really is a devastating decision by the federal government and one that the council and community won’t take lying down,” Cr Cliff said.
He said a ‘fighting group’ of council representatives and community members would be established to lobby the government for the reinstatement of the funds.
Failing that, he said, the shire would look for funds elsewhere.
“I’m confident that we can still get this done,” he said.
The $9.6 million community project would include a 400-seat auditorium, indigenous cultural education garden and improvements to the studios and galleries.
The shire has allocated $4.6 million to the project while the state government has committed $3 million.
“The feds have let us down,” Cr Cliff said.
Cr Cliff said the shire had spent $130,000 on the project so far.
“It’s an absolutely disgusting waste of money,” he said.
Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Anthony Albanese said the program was closed due to the maladministration of the previous government following recommendations from independent body the National Audit Office.
“This was the only option available to the government,” he said.
“It was done for good financial reasons.”
Mr Albanese said a new program would be launched next year, with a new application process.
Shire mayor Tim Heenan told the Mail he would personally meet with Mr Albanese to plead Burrinja’s case.
Burrinja executive officer Ross Farnell said the proposal was 15 years in the making.
“Although some Regional Partnerships programs may be accused of having been created by a cynical political process, this was never the case with Burrinja,” he said.
In parliament last week, La Trobe MP Jason Wood said the Burrinja project had great community and bipartisan support.
“The appalling way in which Labor has handled this matter has galvanised the local community,” he said.
“It is grossly unfair and utterly gutless to keep community organisations in limbo for months on end until budget night.”
Burrinja will hold a community protest event on Thursday 29 May at the cultural centre from 8pm.
More information on the event and the campaign to save the project can be found at www.burrinja.org.au or by calling 9754 8723.