Premier defends Drum costs

By Shaun Inguanzo
DANDENONG’S new Drum Theatre and Town Hall has come under ratepayer scrutiny after the council spent $55,000 on the opening night and revealed ongoing costs to residents of up to $400,000 each year.
The $13.9 million state-of-the-art theatre opened its doors for an invite-only gala opening last Saturday evening to a crowd of dignitaries including Victorian Premier Steve Bracks, Dandenong business identities, council staff and councillors.
But the price tag for the evening alone amounted to $55,000 according to the council, a figure that has led this week to concern from the Dandenong Residents and Ratepayers Association.
DRRA secretary Janet Cox said the group heard a number of complaints from attendees about accessibility and the number of empty seats for the premier performance.
“DRRA also hope that the enormous ongoing maintenance and running costs will not increase rates or reduce money available for community grants,” Ms Cox said.
Ms Cox said the DRRA had received reports of up to 100 empty seats.
“How much per head for 400 or so people did this gala cost ratepayers?” Ms Cox asked.
She said other complaints included that there was a lack of multicultural acts on the opening night, failing to represent Dandenong’s large ethnic population.
Council CEO Carl Wulff said the ongoing costs were fully justified on the premise a performing arts centre will play a vital role in Dandenong’s revitalisation.
The revelation is in line with comments made at the gala opening last Saturday by Premier Bracks who told the Star there would be ‘no compromise’ in investing in Dandenong’s future facilities, with the view of turning the city into a self-sustainable hub in Melbourne’s south-east.
Mr Bracks said: “I think that Dandenong should have the best possible sports and arts facilities,” he said.
“There should be no compromise.”
Costs to build the state-of-the-art theatre blew out from $13.2 million to almost $14 million after the demolition of the 1940 Town Hall unearthed a set of hurdles for construction workers, including the discovery of a critical phone line that stood in the way of proposed designs.
Mr Wulff said research presented to the council showed a performing arts theatre was an essential part of revitalising a city.