Butter Factory trial answers call for greater community involvement

The Cooroy Lower Mill Board will oversee the running of Cooroy’s Butter Factory Arts Centre in a one-year trial to begin in January.

Cr Tony Wellington hopes the trial, which Council approved on Thursday, will see in the facility becoming more viable and better utilised.

“This is an opportunity to build on the Butter Factory’s current strengths and unlock further potential, particularly for the creative industries,” he said.

“I know the Cooroy Lower Mill Board is very excited about the prospect of managing the facility, and they have already had a number of potential users making contact with them. The Board is very much focused on the Butter Factory becoming a real drawcard for the town and the Noosa hinterland generally."

Cr Wellington said the Mill Board’s local connections would see a greater sense of community ownership of the Butter Factory.

“The community consultation process demonstrated that the community wanted more involvement in the Butter Factory and its future direction. There was also a strong push for the Butter Factory to maintain its creative industries focus,” Cr Wellington said.

"The Cooroy Lower Mill Board has a history of effectively working to enrich the Lower Mill community precinct. And they have creative industry practitioners amongst their Board members. So they are a good fit to deliver the community aspirations that Council identified."

More than 110 people took part in a workshop on the Butter Factory’s future, with a strong online response from the community via Council’s Your Say Noosa website.

Since Noosa Council purchased the Cooroy Butter Factory in the 1990s it has at various times been a creative hub, art gallery, education facility, performing arts venue and a workshop space.

“Council has decided to provide the Cooroy Lower Mill Board with funding for an initial 12-month trial. This will allow the group to test programming and operational ideas and demonstrate the viability of the new management model. Plainly we are all hoping this trial will be a runaway success, shining a light on the future of this historic building.”

28 September 2015