Bellingen Shire Council has convened a Community Working Group to help explore a sustainable future for the heritage-listed Bellingen Courthouse, with the group already progressing discussions with the NSW Government about opportunities to activate the site.
Expressions of Interest to join the Bellingen Courthouse Working Group closed in May, with strong community interest helping inform the final membership of the skills-based advisory group.
Bellingen Shire Council General Manager, Mark Griffioen, thanked everyone who expressed an interest in contributing.
“The level of interest demonstrated how strongly people feel about the future of the Courthouse,” Mark Griffioen said.
“While we could not appoint everyone who nominated, the applications demonstrated the breadth of knowledge, experience and enthusiasm that exists within our community.”
The Working Group brings together expertise in heritage architecture, First Nations knowledge, arts and cultural development, regional development, business and community activation. It has been established to explore realistic pathways for restoring and activating the Courthouse while recognising the significant heritage, financial and operational challenges associated with the site.
The Working Group members are:
Dean Thomas Kelly, Yurruungga Aboriginal Corporation – Dean contributes First Nations cultural knowledge, appropriate engagement protocols and connection to Gumbaynggirr Country.
Olivia Parker, Arts Mid North Coast – Olivia contributes regional arts and cultural-sector expertise, knowledge of cultural activation models and connections across the Mid North Coast creative sector.
Madeleine Lawler and Dianne Wall, Regional Development Australia Mid North Coast – RDA Mid North Coast contributes experience in regional development, government programs, funding opportunities, partnerships and investment pathways.
Frank Perez, Bellingen Chamber of Commerce – Frank contributes a local business, visitor economy and town-centre activation perspective.
Anthony Kelly, ADG Architects – Anthony contributes specialist experience in heritage architecture, adaptive reuse, heritage assessment and the practical constraints involved in restoring and repurposing older public buildings.
Hayley Egan, Taranta Arts Inc – Hayley contributes extensive local experience in community arts and cultural development, grants, governance, programming and the practical activation of community spaces.
The Working Group is chaired by Mr Griffioen, with Mayor Steve Allan participating as Council’s civic representative. Cameron Bragg from the NSW Premier’s Department also participates to support engagement with the NSW Government, which owns the Courthouse.
Mark Griffioen said the group had deliberately been established as a skills-based group rather than one representing individual interests or advocating for a particular future use.
“The group’s role is to understand what is realistically possible for the Courthouse and what would be needed to make that happen,” he said.
“We need to understand the condition of the building, the cost and practicalities of restoration, possible funding sources, potential uses and, importantly, how any future operation could be financially sustainable.”
Since commencing its work, the group has met on a number of occasions and considered the condition of the Courthouse, opportunities for future activation, funding and investment pathways, governance and operating models and examples of comparable heritage buildings that have been successfully brought back into use.
An early outcome from the Working Group’s discussions has also been an improvement in the presentation of the Courthouse grounds.
Yurruungga Aboriginal Corporation CEO Dean Thomas Kelly offered for YAC Rangers to assist with cleaning up the site. Following that offer and further discussions, the NSW Government arranged for initial clean-up works to be undertaken around the Courthouse precinct.
Mark Griffioen said the outcome demonstrated the value of having the different organisations around the table.
“Dean’s offer provided the opportunity to raise the condition of the grounds with the NSW Government again and we were pleased to see the State respond by arranging the initial clean-up,” he said.
“It is a relatively small step compared with the broader challenge of activating the Courthouse, but it has made an immediate difference to the presentation of the site.”
Council and the Working Group continue to work with relevant NSW Government agencies and stakeholders to explore opportunities that could facilitate activation of the Courthouse.
“The NSW Government owns the building, so continued engagement with the State is critical,” Mark Griffioen said.
“Our aim is to work constructively with the relevant agencies and stakeholders to build a clearer understanding of what could be achieved, what barriers need to be addressed and what opportunities exist to bring the Courthouse back into productive use.”
Mark Griffioen said there were significant issues still to work through, and the Working Group was deliberately taking an evidence-based approach. That approach was also central to the original reports, which identified building condition, funding, sustainable operating models and comparable courthouse projects as areas for investigation.
“The Courthouse is an important heritage building and there is a strong desire to see it activated again,” he said.
“Any future proposal needs to be practical, financially sustainable and capable of delivering a genuine benefit to the community.
“The Working Group is helping us do the groundwork needed to give that the best possible chance of happening.”
Updates on the Working Group’s progress, including frequently asked questions and project information, are available on Council’s website at: www.bellingen.nsw.gov.au/Services/Infrastructure-Projects/Special-Projects/Bellingen-Courthouse-Community-Project