Hopes for a new concert hall for Northern Queensland were dashed in a specially convened meeting of Townsville Council held in camera last Friday (16 August) during which the Council resolved to shelve plans for a purpose-built auditorium to be built in the city.

A rendering of a proposed design for a new concert venue in Townsville. Image supplied

The motion was moved by Townville’s Mayor, Troy Thompson, who had previously voiced support for a new venue suitable for contemporary music. It was decided that based on the Council’s Long-Term Financial Plan, Council’s required contribution of approximately $50m to the scheme would not be available in the foreseeable future.

In a statement on the Council website, Thompson explained that a majority had voted to redirect funds to the rebuilding of Reef HQ, the national centre for reef education.

In a statement published on City of Townsville’s website, Thompson wrote:

“Council voted to reallocate the funds after it received the Australian Government’s Concert Hall business case about two weeks ago. The cost of the Concert Hall is significantly more than $100 million and as such is financially unviable at this point in...