Michaela Meade
A decision to transform the Plenty Ranges Arts and Convention Centre into a mass vaccination hub has cost Whittlesea council about $1.2 million, it has been revealed.
A report to last week’s council meeting stated that the council has lost $1.2 million to date as a result of “booking cancellations and repurposing the facility”, following its June decision to cancel events at PRACC for the remainder of the year.
The centre has been used as a mass vaccination hub, run by Northern Health, since June 11.
The report said the cancellation of events was having a “considerable” impact on local dance groups, schools and performers who were set to take to the PRACC stage in the second half of this year.
PRACC is the municipality’s only purpose-built arts and convention centre, the report said.
“This decision [to have the hub run out of PRACC] will allow the local community to be vaccinated as quickly as possible, however it will have a considerable impact on the many dance groups, schools, performers, regular PRACC users and staff,” the report said.
“This impact is being monitored and alternative venues… are still being identified to best support local groups throughout 2021 and possibly into the 2022 event season.”
Whittlesea chief executive Craig Lloyd said the centre would be used as a vaccination hub for a while.
“It’s expected that by about September as more vaccines arrive in Australia, we will see a real, further drive at that centre,” Mr Lloyd.
“It’s likely the centre will operate as a vaccine centre until at least the end of the calendar year.
“But that’s all depending on the availability and the take up of the vaccine.”
The council report also flagged the creation of a large community festival at PRACC as part of the its 2021-22 events season.
“To strengthen the use of PRACC in council’s programming, this event will focus on PRACC’s indoor and outdoor spaces to showcase the potential of the venue and the civic centre precinct as an arts and culture hub for the municipality,” the report said.
