Image: Design by Graham Burrows of Jackson Clements Burrows Architects.

A petition regarding the development of a Youth Arts Precinct comprising a 350-seat theatre and a studio theatre adjacent to the Gasworks Park was presented by Christine Fetterplace, an Albert Park resident at Council Meeting on 6 July 2022. The Friends of Gasworks Arts Park are concerned about the impact of the arts precinct on parking and how the arts precinct will interface with the park. 

Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School (VCASS) will construct a new arts precinct in partnership with Albert Park College adjacent to the Gasworks Park. The arts precinct will consist of a major theatre, studio theatre, training and rehearsal areas, exhibition spaces with lighting, audio, digital projection, 3D and stage technologies. The arts precinct will have the capacity to host 50 or more major productions each year and construction is planned to commence later this year on land adjacent to the Gasworks Arts Park.

The Friends of Gasworks Arts Park petition containing 63 signatures states:

“We believe the proposed Victorian Youth Arts Precinct is an overdevelopment of the former Multiplex site adjacent to the Gasworks Park. According to the plan on the internet the development covers most of the site with no open space. A theatre is one thing but a Precinct with two theatres, rehearsal spaces, a cafe, box office and other facilities is not needed and is in the wrong place. There is no provision for car of bus parking. This will cause problems for all residents in the area with up to 50 productions a year proposed with seating for 350 in the main theatre. The wall which separates the development from the park is to be removed according to the plan. We the undersigned ask the Council to make sure this wall is not demolished or reduced in height. It separates the Park area, which is managed by the Council from the adjoining Precinct, which has never been part of the park and will be managed by the school”.

The State Government will fund the project and will be constructed by the Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA). Although the project does not require Council planning permits, Christine Fetterplace said “Even though education projects under the VSBA are exempt from any Council planning permits, this does not mean Council is exempt from its responsibilities to make sure parking, traffic and resident's amenity considerations are not sacrificed”.

The existing Gasworks theatre is owned by Council and does not interface with the park. It is one of the original heritage buildings and is unobtrusive on the park area. The new arts precinct will consist of two storeys high modern buildings and will dominate the Park if the wall separating the park and arts precinct is removed. The Friends of Gasworks Arts Park oppose the removal of the wall (pictured) because it would give students great access to the park. Christine Fetterplace said, “Council has a responsibility to its residents to consider the impact on the park and its many users, not just do whatever the school wants”.

Mayor Pearl spoke to the motion saying that community consultation produces better outcomes, and it is “Council’s responsibility to advocate for the best interests of our citizens”. Councillors voted unanimously to request the mayor to write to the Minister of Education to request the VSBA to undertake formal consultation with Council on the design of the Youth Arts Precinct and request that the process be established by the VSBA or relevant state government departments or agencies for addressing local residents concerns during planning and construction and following the opening of the Youth Arts Precinct.

The motion also recommended petitioners to contact the Victorian Youth Arts Precinct (VYAP) and VSBA with their concerns (see website below).

LEARN MORE | VicYouthArtsPrecinct

Victorian College Of The Arts Secondary School & Albert Park College | Victorian School Building Authority (schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au)