Wednesday, 26 August 2026

 Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) (19:32): (2742) My adjournment is to the Minister for Creative Industries. In March 2018 the Victorian government announced a $12 million commitment to redeveloping the old Kyneton Primary School site into a creative community precinct. It was due to be completed in 2024. Two years later it remains empty. Despite being promoted as a community arts space, a recent media release by Mary-Anne Thomas indicates that stage 1 under the newly appointed consortium will establish a new coworking hub for local small businesses and sole traders. Twelve million dollars has already been spent and the site remains closed.

I find it extraordinary that a local community group, the Kyneton Art Group, of 50 years is now facing a seven-fold increase to their rent by the local council to continue meeting at the Red Brick Hall. It would be a shame to see such a vibrant and valuable community group disbanded due to this huge and unaffordable rental increase. The Kyneton Art Group has around 30 members who meet weekly, and they support the daffodil festival, the RSL and the Kyneton Agricultural Show. Together they build community connection and make a valuable contribution to the cultural vibrancy of the region. The former mayor of Macedon Ranges Kate Kendall recommended that the community group utilise the space at the old Kyneton Primary School, and the Kyneton Art Group are keen to see that happen. I would appreciate the minister’s support to ensure that they can find an affordable space to call home.

The community, indeed all Victorians, also deserve transparency around the ongoing delays and total costs of the project, and I look forward to an update from the minister. It is worth noting that the precinct, which has remained closed for the last eight years, will conveniently reopen ahead of the November state election, just in time for the Kyneton Daffodil & Arts Festival in September, and then host activations for the remainder of this year. The current Labor member Mary-Anne Thomas, the member for Macedon, issued a media release just last month that states:

The former library has been transformed into a flexible, creative and community space …

Given $12 million of public money has already been spent on this site, it is my hope that local groups like the Kyneton Art Group will also be able to use it.