We feel there is confusion about the Liberty Theatre so this letter is to clarify to all, where things stand.

What has gone before, who did or didn’t do whatever, has no place in conversations about the theatre.

The dialogue needs to about the present and the future if Yass and district want to save an icon.

Your readers need to know the facts.

Touie and Denise Smith are not proceeding with the Liberty Theatre restoration project that included a vision to create community ownership once restored. The building is to be sold.

Before going to the market we are offering a way our vision of a restored and operating community owned theatre in Yass can be realised.

We have and still are offering to sell the theatre to any community based group/entity including giving all plans, memorabilia and contacts.

To assist we also offer a $500,000 interest free 10-year loan being the sum of money the theatre owes us. We will take a mortgage over the building; provide a 5-year repayment free period and generous terms of repayment.

The dialogue in the community needs to be if Yass wants to have a 1939, art deco, once 700 seat theatre with all the possibilities of movie and live theatre, restaurant, functions, conferencing and wine bar.

One example is community groups running functions providing patrons with a unique experience and profit sharing with the community. The possibilities are endless.

Other towns have done it so why not Yass? Council needs to come to speed and understand that the Smiths are not proceeding, the non DA is old news, we've have never asked Council for a cent and to the contrary have offered to loan Council the money to purchase the theatre if they wanted to do so on behalf of the community.  

We are however pleased to see in last weeks paper that Mayor Abbey is a supporter of the concept and note the newly appointed Director Mr Berry’s comments in your paper as positive and look forward to Council’s ideas and assistance going forward.   

What is needed now is an entity we can deal with and they need the support of the community and Council to bring the Liberty Theatre back to life.

Touie and Denise Smith,

Yass.