Bellarine Arts Centre
The Bellarine Arts Centre (BAC), known as the ‘Potato Shed’, opened in March 2001. It was built as a joint venture by the City of Greater Geelong (CoGG), the Victorian Department of Education and Training (DET), Bellarine Secondary College (BSC) and the Roman Catholic Trusts Corporation (on behalf of the Catholic Regional College, now Saint Ignatius College Geelong).
Bellarine Arts Centre
Redevelopment Business Case
Client: City of Greater Geelong
Services Primary: Business Case
Services Secondary: Economics & Financial Analysis
Sector: Arts & Culture
Background
Since opening, the venue has become a well-loved and very well used assortment of performing arts and teaching spaces - so popular that demand exceeded capacity within 7 years of opening, prompting its first redevelopment proposal in 2008 (which did not proceed). Additional proposals related to expansions and redevelopments for the site followed in 2010, 2016 and 2017 but none have proceeded.
Key constraints that needed to be managed in this project included the requirement for part of the facility to continue to remain operational, so that each of the schools could have students taught here.
Another constraint was needing to align funding requests with available funds of the key partners. This meant aligning and phasing construction to meet funding appetites.
Our Role
Aalto led the engagement with the City of Greater Geelong and managed design and quantity surveyor input to meet the project requirements.
The business case involved completion of an Investment Logic Map (ILM), consideration of Strategic Responses as well as project options which were designed (concept) and costed to an appropriate level for government consideration.
A full financial operating position for the facility (including revenues from food & beverage, venue hire and ticket sales) was prepared, as was a full socio-economic cost benefit analysis (CBA) which considered community benefits including education outcomes supported by a revamped venue.
Outcome and Insights
The business case highlighted and quantified the impact that the Bellarine Arts Centre has for the regional and wider communities, in the context of a rapidly growing community, and a emerging community precinct on adjacent sites.
The preferences of a range of stakeholders were faithfully captured and presented, which led directly to how the design of the venue was approached, and its operating model. Key consultation was undertaken with education partners, Wadawarrung Aboriginal Corporation, and venue hirers and performers.
The business case and its design concepts have been received by council and the project is under consideration by relevant levels of government to progress further.