Dear Editor,
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
We find the letter from Mayor Rowena Abbey on March 26 a bit perplexing as we don't understand why there was one version for Yass Valley Council website and a different one for you.
The rhetoric about us and council is well-worn and not relevant to what the conversation should be about.
The Liberty Theatre is more important than shots at the Smiths and praising council management.
The focus of the conversation needs to be kept to the other 14,998 residents who understand that a working Liberty Theatre complex can address the landscape of the main street and offer the community so much.
We would have thought councillors have an obligation to find out what the community wants and, if it is a theatre, start a process to make it happen.
The first vital step is for individual councillors to be properly informed and not complacent in finding out community sentiment.
We invited all nine councillors to an exclusive presentation of the features and benefits of the building and to explain what the theatre can do for the town. We organised a tour, a history and arranged an expert in restoration architecture from Sydney to comment and explain the processes needed to move forward with such a project.
One councillor apologised, two didn't turn up but the six councillors who attended seemed impressed with the potential and enlightened by the experience.
We were disappointed that not all councillors shared the experience and even more disappointed to see the mayor's letter last week that contains no way forward for the theatre, offers no solutions and seems to miss the point.
If the restoration of the theatre is to be realised, it involves councillors and council being on side and positive.
We ask the mayor and councillors to state where we go from here and look forward to a press release saying, 'Councillors enthusiastic in finding ways to return the Liberty Theatre to the community'.
Touie and Denise Smith
Yass