The entertainment centre is a central part of the town’s identity, but it was badly damaged through Cyclone Debbie in 2017 and has been closed since, forcing events to relocate and limiting the region’s capacity to attract new events.
Rebuilding it is an integral step in helping the community’s ongoing recovery efforts, and to boost tourism and economic opportunities in the region – one of the most unique and beautiful parts of Australia.
Labor’s investment will go towards reconstruction of a new complex, including:
- The capacity for a 300 seat auditorium for live shows and movies.
- A conference and function space with a capacity for 256.
- Full access for people with disability.
- Enhanced facilities including green room, change rooms, loading dock and prop storage.
It’s estimated that some weeks more than 1,000 people will use the centre – providing an economic and social boost to Proserpine and the broader Whitsunday community.
A new entertainment centre would also provide a large air conditioned facility for local community groups to use, particularly local senior citizen groups.
During construction the project is forecast to have an economic output of $16.7 million and create 43 jobs during construction, and once fully operational it will generate an annual $3.3 million output and 16 fulltime equivalent jobs.
This investment is the result of the hard work and advocacy of Labor candidate Belinda Hassan – who has been listening to the local community about what they want for their region.
Residents in Proserpine and the Whitsundays have done the hard work to rebuild their community after Cyclone Debbie, and Labor’s investment will give them extra support in continuing these efforts.
This is a beautiful part of Queensland – it deserves a government in Canberra that listens and acts on the things that matter. That’s what Labor will do.