‘Heart of the arts’: Libs promise millions for heritage facelift
An Art Deco theatre will get a $7.5 million makeover if the Liberals win the state election – one parliamentary hopeful saying the party wants to make the “eastern suburbs the heart of the arts in Adelaide”.
The state Liberal Party today announced it would commit $2.5 million towards the redevelopment of the Regal Theatre and the surrounding precinct in Kensington Park if elected.
Liberal candidate for Dunstan Anna Finizio said the upgrades would make the “eastern suburbs the heart of the arts in Adelaide”.
City of Burnside last year unveiled its $7.5 million plans to rejuvenate the heritage-listed theatre, and called on the state government to provide extra funding to make the project happen.
The council’s planned refurbishment would include upgrading the historic theatre so it would survive a one-in-100-year earthquake.
There would be two new double-story extensions to the east and north sides of the theatre for new bathrooms, a green room and upgraded services in the hopes of staging live performances in the future.
Other works would include improvements to the stage, equipment and backstage facilities; increasing accessibility and new outdoor dining opportunities.
The project has already secured $2.434 million in federal government funding, and the state Liberals’ commitment would deliver the final investment council needs to get the project happening.
Originally known as the Princess Theatre, the Regal Theatre opened on November 24, 1925, and was designed by renowned Adelaide architect Christopher A. Smith.
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It was later remodelled in 1941 by F. Kenneth Milne in the Art Deco style and was added to the State Heritage Register in 1983.
Burnside Council CEO Julia Grant handed Dunstan MP Cressida O’Hanlon a petition in November signed by hundreds of residents supporting the planned refurbishment.
Shadow Minister for Arts Jack Batty said the project would transform the cultural institution into one of the state’s “premier suburban arts venues”.
“Community arts groups are crying out for more places to showcase their work,” Batty said.
“We will back our suburban theatres to maximise participation in the arts and ensure more South Australians can enjoy live performance close to home.
“This funding will deliver a better stage to attract more performances, more accessible spaces, and an exciting new outdoor space with a vibrant dining precinct.”
The arts spokesman said the state Liberal party could support both the arts and sport events and institutions.
“I love the footy and the golf – but I also love the opera and theatre,” he said.
“The South Australian Liberal Party wants every South Australian to have the opportunity to access, participate in and benefit from the arts. That’s exactly what this commitment is about.”
Liberal candidate for Dunstan Anna Finizio said the project was a “generational investment in the arts” for her electorate.
“This investment will provide my local community with a space to enjoy the arts for generations to come,” said Finizio, who is running in the state election against Labor MP Cressida O’Hanlon, Greens candidate Christel Mex and Fair Go for Australians candidate Chris McDermott.
“This will be a stage for rising stars in our local schools, while also attracting major arts festivals and performances right here in Kensington Park.”
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Burnside Mayor Anne Monceaux welcomed the election promise.
“This project is an investment in our community’s future, revitalising an iconic Adelaide cultural institution and ensuring it remains the foremost performing arts theatre and cinema in the eastern suburbs,” Monceaux said.
“The heritage-listed theatre is one of the oldest continuously running purpose-built cinemas in Adelaide and its preservation is vital.”
Asked whether Labor would match the Liberal Party’s spend, Arts Minister Andrea Michaels said, “Since coming to government, the Malinauskas Government has invested an additional $160 million in the arts and released South Australia’s first ever 10-year State Cultural Policy – an $80 million investment over the next four years”.
“We have continually demonstrated our commitment to the arts and we will continue to announce our policies for the future over the coming weeks,” Michaels said.
More schools in new speed limit zones
Meanwhile, the state Labor government was out today spruiking the addition of 34 more schools to have the new 40km/h school zone speed limit.
The new limit will not replace the existing 25km/h school zones on local roads, with the 40km/h limit to apply to roads near schools that currently have speed limits of 50 km/h or higher.
Education Minister Blair Boyer said the new school zones were “an important step in looking after the safety of our children at the very time they’re moving in and out of the school grounds”.
Jamestown Community School, Murray Bridge High School, and Nuriootpa High School are some of the schools that will be part of the next phase.
The government said the locations were selected based on each school’s proximity to busy roads as well as factors like traffic speed, volume and crash history.
The new speed limit has already come into effect at 28 schools across Adelaide, including at Golden Grove High School, Marryatville High and Goodwood Primary School.
By the end of this year, around 160 schools across the state will have the new speed limit implemented, the state government claimed.
The reduced speed limit will apply on school days from 8am to 9.30am and 2pm to 4pm, excluding weekends, public holidays and school holidays.
“I’d remind motorists that as the new school year starts next week, slowing down around schools helps protect children – a small change in speed makes a big difference to a child’s chance of getting home safely,” Boyer said.
“By lowering speeds when students are arriving and leaving school, we’re giving drivers more time to react, preventing tragedies before they happen.”
