Cultural centre plan’s funding blow

Plans by the traditional owners of Broome to establish an “iconic” cultural centre in Chinatown, potentially on Male Oval, have received a blow as an application to the State Government to cover the cost of feasibility studies has been overlooked.

Nyamba Buru Yawuru general manager for community programs Tony Lee toldThe Broome Advertiser in March of hopes to establish three significant local infrastructure projects costing an estimated $60-80 million.

These include a cultural centre in Chinatown, with Male Oval eyed as a possible location, a community centre on Reid Road and a knowledge centre at Roebuck Plains Station.

However, plans for the cultural centre and knowledge centre have been delayed due to NBY missing out on around $200,000 of Royalties for Regions funding to cover the cost of feasibility studies.

Mr Lee said the news was “extremely disappointing” due to the potential benefits the facilities would bring to Broome.

“I think that particularly in relation to the cultural centre it is a bit of a disappointment as such a facility would boost not only economic development but also the broader social and community development of Broome,” he toldThe Broome Advertiser last week.

“To not to be able to get to the planning stage is extremely disappointing.

“What it would do not only for Yawuru but for the broader community and tourism here in Broome and the Kimberley would be absolutely significant.”

Mr Lee said he remained confident the projects would go ahead and that other channels were being explored to generate the required funds.

“We’re exploring other avenues but it puts it on a bit of a hold,” he said.

“We would have hoped to have been progressing now to getting some plans together, getting the site location identified and costings and plans done so we could go forward with a well-presented submission to various sources for funding.

“It does put us back a few months. If we don’t have the plans, if we don’t have the costings ready to go then we are going to miss out. Then it could be several years down the track before Broome gets an iconic cultural centre.”

Mr Lee confirmed that NBY’s Prescribed Body Corporate board had covered the $100,000 cost to fund the feasibility study for the community centre, with a site on Bernard Way off Reid Road being identified.

“We are finalising concept plans and costings, and there are positive indications,” he said.

“We are quietly confident about that one.”

Mr Lee said that although NBY were driving the plans for the three facilities, there need to be a holistic approach to turn the plans to reality.

“Yawuru can’t do it all on their own and there shouldn’t be that expectation,” he said.

“There needs to be a firm commitment, particularly in relation to the cultural centre, to say as a community ‘this has to be done.’”