General News
15 May, 2025
Good intentions and deferred decisions: School of Arts
Tenterfield School of Arts pressure
There is, no doubt, frustration all around as important decisions were deferred for yet another month whilst pressure for resolution gains in intensity.
The School of Arts Tenterfield Incorporated [SOATI], the highly regarded committee trying to get the facility up and running again, are wrangling with leases, wish lists from the Chamber of Commerce, and a council that is not entirely unified in its approach.
As reported last week, SOATI presented their case the public consultation segment immediately before last meeting of the Tenterfield Shire Council. Many questions were asked and answered before Deputy Mayor Greg Sauer moved to push remaining debate to the introduction of the agenda item during the meeting proper.
General Manager Hein Basson introduced the item by complimenting the members of SOATI.
“The opinion is that the council and community are fortunate to have attracted” quality members and he has confidence that they will be successful in “the reestablishment of the arts and cultural element that is so important for the nurturing of our community spirit and soul.”
It was a positive beginning but very quickly questions over the proposed lease agreement between Council and SOATI raised questions and tensions.
Cr Peter Petty wanted confirmation on the roughly $85,000 per annum that Council will pay to cover SOATI’s running costs. Several minutes were spent debating the worth of having a landline in the building versus a mobile phone with Cr Petty commenting that to disconnect it and deal with Telstra will require divine intervention. Mayor Bronwyn Petrie asked if the landline is still working.
Cr Tim Bonner was the first to suggest deferring any decisions until more information could be garnered saying that he was “concerned with so many aspects in this agreement” that he didn’t feel comfortable about voting on it. He suggested that councillors hold a workshop with members of SOATI and the Chamber of Commerce together.
“I think there’s so many angles being put on this group, and to make a decision here today, I don’t think we’re going to have all the information we need.”
Sources involved in the matter have told The Town & Country Journal that there is uneasiness about how a Chamber-sponsored tourist kiosk in the School of Arts would work on the ground, including funding, personnel, and risk management. There is the suggestion, the paper was told, that a decision is being rushed due to the Chamber of Commerce’s need to acquit an earlier grant from Council by August to fund a tourism kiosk beyond brochure stands. Councillors are keen to get all sides in agreement with a scenario that is favourable to Tenterfield Shire Council.
The mayor pushed back slightly at Cr Bonner’s resolution to defer, saying that while there are questions, the proposed lease could be amended. Cr Owen Bancroft agreed with Cr Bonner and said that he had “too many questions that can be answered in one visit”, despite the impressive bios of the SOATI committee members.
Cr Bonner reiterated that all parties should workshop the agreement, including the Chamber of Commerce. “There’s too much riding on this. They’re a talented bunch of individuals and we don’t want to be seen as undermining them; we have to make the right decisions.” Certainly, the finalised agreement with have very long-term consequences for Council and the Shire.
Cr Sauer spoke against deferring the motion.
“I do share concerns that they [SOATI] are at the moment not really keen on providing tourism services on weekends and public holidays, I think the way around that is to resolve some of Cr Bonner’s concerns. But to try and delay it for another month…it’s only a 12-month agreement and I think it’s a good testing ground for both parties to feel it out over a 12-month period and find those items that need to be ironed out. We get a chance to review it in 12 months’ time instead of three years. These people have been waiting to get on and if we procrastinate any longer we’ll lost another three months. Then we can write the year off…and we won’t get out of the School of Arts what we hoped to get out of it…I think we need to get on with it.”
Mayor Petrie agreed that there were several difficult questions about the tourism kiosk aspect and ongoing funding.
Cr Peter Murphy took the opportunity to speak up for the Tenterfield Aerodrome.
“Each year they absorb the costs of $80,000 of costs and don’t get one dollar from council for it….they’re not the only community organisation who will be asking why SOATI is getting preferential treatment when other organisations don’t get a dollar from council”
The mayor replied, with a note of weariness, that every organisation is different “but I take your point”.
The motion to defer carried. A workshop will be held and a new version of the agreement between SOATI and Tenterfield Shire Council will be produced at the next meeting.
