Volunteer groups have a vision to turn Mudgee's old TAFE site into a multi-purpose community hub.
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Mudgee Concert Band, Mudgee Performing Arts Society (MPAS), and University of the Third Age (U3A) see the facility's potential to house rehearsals, meetings, classes and storage for the groups and community users.
"We're looking to share something with community groups," U3A president, Judith Darling, said. "I think we all know it's disappointing that a growing community like Mudgee does not have that community space."
The NSW government offered the building to Mid-Western Regional Council in 2018, under the conditions they purchase at market price and restrict it to community use. While council was interested, they declined due to the high cost and restrictive conditions.
The groups have approached State MP Dugald Saunders to see if the building can be given to the community for a token price, similar to the purchase of the former Cudgegong Shire chambers for $1.
"It's a hallmark of Mudgee as a town that there is a really strong community feeling towards the arts," MPAS president, David McLennan, said.
"These groups' common goals are to bring the community together and provide scope for learning, a love of music and a love of acting."
Judith Darling added that U3A struggled to locate large, affordable venue for its classes, and instead had to hold classes in a dozen small venues around Mudgee.
"If we have a large group, we have difficulty finding a venue that's large enough, and for the ones that are available, the cost is sometimes prohibitive," she said.
At the moment none of these groups have a permanent home.
- David McLennan, MPAS president
Mr McLennan said the concert band and the theatre group have been growing in recent years, and the band needed space to have instruments permanently set up, while the performing arts society needed a safe and sealed area for set construction and storage.
"MPAS has been looking for a home in order to build their sets and rehearse for a number of years now," Mr McLennan said.
"At the moment none of these groups have a permanent home."