Geraldton $31m arts precinct approved

A proposal for a $31 million arts and accommodation precinct at Geraldton’s Radio Theatre site has been approved by planning authorities.

A Regional Joint Development Assessment Panel today determined the outcome of the application, which promises to revive the western end of the town.

The proposal includes 72 serviced apartments, a cinema and theatre, tavern, restaurant, café and liquor store across four storeys and 6,764 square metres of net lettable area at the intersection of Marine Terrace, Fitzgerald Street and Lester Avenue.

Planning Solutions submitted the proposal in August on behalf of the site’s owners ADA Capital, run by Perth hoteliers David Allan and Lawson Douglas, and Blair Armstrong. 

Mr Alllan and Mr Douglas bought the site from Geraldton Investments Pty Ltd for $2.41 million in November 2021, via Margland Pty Ltd. 

Planning documents describe the project, dubbed West End Precinct, as a “state significant tourism and entertainment precinct” and an “incubator for emerging arts and culture creatives”.

The historic Geraldton Radio Theatre will anchor the development, which will include creative arts, indigenous culture, music, comedy and visual arts.

The Geraldton Beach Hotel, which has fallen into disrepair in recent years, will be demolished to make way for the development.

ADA Capital director Blair Armstrong, who is leading the project, said it was the first art deco modern cinema open in WA.

“WA has some good example of art deco cinemas and a lot of them have been lost over time so it would be great to be able to restore this one,” he said.

The proposed restaurant as part of the Radio Theatre development. Photo: JDAP document

Mr Armstrong said the condition of the site amplified the challenge of the project.

“The landholding has been derelict and decrepit for the past two decades, so it’s pretty daunting. Unfortunately due to mismanagement of the previous owners, it’s gone into a state of disrepair,” he said.

He added that the project would create much-needed accommodation in the town, and help draw more tourists to the region.

He called on the panel to remove the requirement for a $570,000 contribution to a carpark for the serviced apartment component, which he said would “kill the project”.

“This project is on a knife edge and it will be on a knife’s edge until it’s delivered and therefore it’s not viable to lay another $500,000 on top of it,” he said.

“Any contribution will effectively stop the project.

“The financial burden of accommodating a town planning scheme that hasn’t factored in serviced apartments correctly needs to be considered.”

Planning Solutions director Ben Doyle said there were no public objections to the 24-bay shortfall in car parks in the project, which highlighted the lack of concern about car bays.

He said this showed that Geraldton needed a new tourist and arts development more than it need a $500,000 car park, and that one car bay per serviced apartment was more than adequate.

Margland will have to ask the State Administrative Tribunal to reconsider the condition around the car park if the company wants to avoid that charge. 

The precinct is set to create more than 150 direct and indirect jobs during its operation.

Premier Roger Cook, Arts and Culture Minister David Templeman and several representatives from the City of Greater Geraldton were consulted in the lead up to Margland’s submission.

In May, the Premier issued a $5 million grant to the development as part of the state government’s investment attraction fund.

The Regional JDAP recommended the project for approval when it was proposed.

Cameron Chisholm Nicol designed the serviced apartments, with heritage specialists Griffiths Architects, and Benson Studio designed the theatre restoration, food and beverage and bottleshop component.