Lord Mayor wants old post office turned into gallery - ABC Online

Posted January 07, 2013 07:45:12

Newcastle Lord Mayor Jeff McCloy is calling for the city's art gallery redevelopment to be scrapped and a new gallery established in the derelict old post office building.

The State Government owned post office is in disrepair, with water pooling inside and the exterior covered in graffiti and bird droppings.

There are plans for a $21 million expansion of the existing Art Gallery in Laman Street, using Council and Government money.

Councillor McCloy says renovating the old post office is a better option.

"I think everyone has been going around in circles for 10 years knowing what to do with it and not withstanding a native title claim which still something has to be done after that no matter how it turns out," he said.

"I thought it would just be a wonderful idea to clean up the east end and make use of that wonderful building in a sensible way.

"There have been preliminary studies done and a few years ago it was tendered out to turn it into a hotel or a pub and that cost was only about 8 million dollars.

"Of course it's had a fair bit of damage since and it would be higher than that but it is just a wonderful use for a building.

"It saves the car parking as well at Laman Street.

"We know car parking in the city for those Darby Street customers and businesses is very important.

"But in the main it is less expensive alternative with a fantastic result for the city".

Topics: arts-and-entertainment, local-government, newcastle-2300