Council votes to waive church hire fees for heritage theatre
Upper Hunter Shire Council voted 6-3 to let a church use the Old Court Theatre for free on Saturday mornings.
Upper Hunter Shire Council approved free hire of the heritage-listed Old Court Theatre for the Scone Seventh-Day Adventist Church on Saturday mornings. The council will forgoe $194.95 for a full day or $106.35 for a half day in revenue.
The Scone Community Shed will also get free use on Wednesdays during school terms for upholstery and furniture restoration. Councillor Peter McGill opposed the move, arguing the theatre should stay a performing arts venue.
Councillor George Fraser questioned whether public money should subsidise any religious belief, but his amendment requiring the church to pay standard fees failed to get a second.
- 6-3
- Vote count
- $194.95
- Full day fee forgone
- $106.35
- Half day fee forgone
- Peter McGill
- Opposition councillor
Why it mattersThe vote marks a shift in how the council uses public assets, choosing religious and community use over theatre bookings and venue income.
AustraliaLocal arts groups in Scone will face limited access to the theatre on Saturday mornings when they might otherwise have booked performances.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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