A group of Queenstown entertainers and event management organisations is appealing to the Queenstown Lakes District Council to refurbish the Memorial Hall.
Performer Steve Wilde made a submission to the council's draft annual plan for the coming financial year. It was supported by Showbiz Queenstown, Destination Queenstown, Winter Festival director Simon Green, Exclusive Events, Dynamics and Remarkables Theatre.
Mr Wilde said the Queenstown Memorial Hall would be the preferred venue for theatre and performing arts and a significant venue for the conference market for the next 10 years.
It was clear that at some time in the future the community would need a purpose-built auditorium for the performing arts and an associated conference centre, he said.
"That time seems some way off given the current economic climate and the debt faced by this council."
Mr Wilde appealed to the council to review the hall and prepare a plan for refurbishment to make it viable for the next 10 years.
He made some suggestions, including increasing its capacity using new concertina seating systems for up to 400 seats.
"The tiered seating should be thrown out and start again. The current system was antiquated and ludicrously impractical and is long overdue for replacement. It is hard to erect and due to a flawed design wastes over 50 seats. It is extremely uncomfortable to sit on," he said.
The entrance foyer needed to be made more "grand".
If the squash club was moved to the Events Centre, the rugby club changing rooms could be moved to the squash courts and the changing rooms could be renovated into a backstage space, he said.
The stage roof was also leaking and needed replacing.
An orchestra pit was also needed.
"This doesn't have to be an expensive exercise and could be done entirely using the council's own staff, working alongside a committee of the main users of the venue coming up with the options.
It doesn't require expensive consultants," he said.
Showbiz Queenstown president Alex Derbie said the community needed a multi-purpose non-sporting venuebut in the interim the Memorial Hall needed to be improved.
"Primarily because of its age, design and configuration the Memorial Hall has considerable shortcomings in fulfilling its role as a venue for users."
Mr Green said he had been performing in and directing productions in the Memorial Hall for the past 14 years.
"During this time the limitations of the venue have become more evident and while the best has been made of a bad situation, the restrictions imposes on what can be achieved both creatively and from a box office perspective..."
He urged the council to employ a venue manager.
Destination Queenstown convention bureau manager Kylie Brittain said the hall was an ideal size and location for conference group functions but needed a modern "facelift".
It was difficult to sell to groups because the sound and lighting were inadequate.
Councillors have deliberated on about 300 submissions.
The final plan would be approved on June 29.
