Last Wednesday, Hilltops Council resolved to accept the Regional Cultural Fund Grant of $3 million for the joint-use facility and have tasked the General Manager to begin negotiations on a Heads of Agreement which is the next step in the joint use process. The Heads of Agreement, which will be between Council and the NSW Department of Education, is the process by which the further details of the project, facility and its operation are agreed. 

A Hilltops Council spokesperson said once negotiated, the Heads of Agreement will return to the Council for a formal resolution to support the agreement and then move forward to the Project Deed. 

“The Project Deed is the binding legal agreement that will underpin the entire management and operation of the joint-use facility,” the spokesperson said.

“The project offers a range of possible facilities including arts workshop and exhibition space, IT training hub, meeting rooms, maker space, virtual conferencing, support for tertiary education, a proactive youth-focused well-being hub and a Wiradjuri learning and cultural centre.

The spokesperson said the council is taking on board all community concerns about the project and are committed to conserving the heritage of Carrington Park.

“Heritage and traffic consultants have been engaged to undertake a thorough analysis of the site with the heritage consultants working to deliver a set of heritage specific principles that address all heritage features including Aboriginal cultural values, archaeological and built heritage to guide the design of the facility,” the spokesperson said.

“Both Council and the NSW Department of Education are committed to ensuring that due diligence is undertaken with these elements of the precinct and once the architects have these studies and are fully informed of the site’s constraints and opportunities then they will proceed to work on the design.”