ALBURY Council will proceed with a high level feasibility study into the creation of a Uiver International Museum of Flight which could lead to the potential acquisition of the heritage-listed Belbridge Hague legal firm building.
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Councillors last night unanimously backed a notice of motion tabled by Cr John Stuchbery for the probe to be carried out into the suitability of the area covered by Belbridge Hague, the laneway between it and the LibraryMuseum and Retro Cafe.
Belbridge Hague director Rob Meers was an interested onlooker in the public gallery when council agreed to spend up to $15,500 on a consultant to complete the study which came with the proviso "minimal or no" grassed area of QEII Square be needed for the proposed Uiver museum and the Retro Cafe be relocated to a spot within the museum.
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Cr Stuchbery pointed out Belbridge Hague was the last remaining building of its type in the QEII Square precinct.
"I'm not wanting to go and take it off anyone who owns it without getting consent," he said.
"But this is an opportunity to make this entire square publicly-owned and utilise the space for museums and other items of public interest."
This is an opportunity to make this entire square publicly-owned
- Cr John Stuchbery
Mayor Kevin Mack confirmed the Belbridge Hague building was heritage listed and also acknowledged its owner, Mr Meers, was at the meeting.
"It is quite a beautiful building and you might be robbing Peter to pay Paul," Cr Mack said.
Cr Stuchbery was also questioned why his preferred architectural firm, Melbourne-based Peddle Thorp, had been deleted from his notice of motion published in the original meeting agenda.
"Ultimately I don't feel we should direct staff to ask one firm only. It would be more open and transparent if it was put to tender," he said.
The council later in the meeting agreed to endorse the Uiver Memorial Community Trust's purchase of a hangar in Bristol Court, East Albury for ongoing restoration works and later development of a "simple museum" to house the replica plane.
It followed a feasibility study carried out by another consultancy firm for the eventual display of the aircraft once restored.
The re-use of the Bristol Court hangar was the preferred option ahead of an extension to the LibraryMuseum or a purpose built facility within the railway station precinct.
"Nothing could be further from the truth," he said.
"It's restoration cannot proceed in any realistic way until it is placed into a larger building.
"This notice of motion is to purely look further afield than the airport precinct.
"Single purpose museums don't have a high chance of success.
"(The CBD) location deserves full exploration before it is either excluded forever or potentially chosen."
Cr Alice Glachan queried whether an enclosed display area could be built on top of the LibraryMuseum to house the renovated Uiver.
Cr David Thurley seconded Cr Stuchbery's motion..
"It doesn't make any final decisions, it doesn't rule out any options presently on the table," he said.
"The long-term vision is where is it best housed and where does it tell the story best.
"No decision tonight procludes anything happening. It simply gets more information to provide more detailed information.
"I don't see any conflict at all and I hope anyone in the UMCT sees this in any way contradicting what they are achieving at the moment."
