Cultural Centre Precinct Making Progress

The Blue Mountains Cultural Centre precinct is set to be a hive of activity in the coming year with the Council giving the green light to two critical projects.
The Council approved the selection of Freeman Ryan Design to provide the design and documentation required for the exhibition development and fit-out of the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre World Heritage Interpretive Centre.

Mayor, Cr Adam Searle, stated, "Given our position as a City within a World Heritage National Park, the World Heritage Interpretive Centre is a vital component of the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre development.

"State-of-the-art technology will be a feature of the World Heritage Interpretive Centre, within the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, which is due to start construction early next year.

The World Heritage Interpretive Centre will provide visitors with an orientation to the Blue Mountains environment, cultural heritage and history.

"The Council is confident that Freeman Ryan Design has the experience and innovation required for this project in order to meet the many visitor expectations of the World Heritage Interpretive Centre. They have extensive experience in similar projects in Australia and overseas."

Freeman Ryan Design will commence a period of community consultation before developing exhibitions for the Interpretive Centre that showcase stories of the Blue Mountains, from ancient to modern times.

Director of the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, Simon Ambrose, said that the Interpretive Centre will offer a fluid interaction between art, culture, education and the built and natural environments. It will include educational resources and experiences for locals and visitors alike, including school students.

"We want to capture the imagination of visitors, encouraging them to stay longer and to come back and bring their family and friends to also enjoy the experience.

At the same meeting on June 16, Development Consent was given for the redevelopment of the Katoomba Civic Centre. The main aim this project is to achieve a new public connection to the proposed new Blue Mountains Cultural Centre as well as upgrading the well used community facilities in the Civic Centre.

"The redevelopment will allow for a more functional and attractive pedestrian connection between Katoomba Street, the Civic Centre and arcade shops and also to the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, which is to be constructed on the old TAFE site", continued Mayor Searle.

The redevelopment of the Katoomba Civic Centre will take place in two stages to allow for the retention of the library in its current location until such time as it can be relocated to the new premises within the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre building.

Construction on the new Civic Centre is expected to commence in October 2009 with preliminary work taking place between 25 to 27 August for the installation of gas mains and heating and security equipment in the existing Katoomba Library. With the exception of unforeseen construction work, residents are assured that the library will remain operational until such time as it is to be relocated.