Since the NSW Government funding fell through everyone has had an opinion and I am one of them. I could not agree with the Mayor's comment that it would go ahead anyway and new borrowings can't be ruled out. Our Council's debt is rising and our rates are increasing and will do so for another couple of years at least so more borrowing doesn't seem the way to go.
There are also comments about the relative merits of swimming pools and art galleries for example. It doesn't have to be one or the other. Each has something to offer the community. Everyone talks about the value of tourism to the city so let's have a look at some facts.
The Bendigo Art Gallery recently ran the "Grace Kelly Exhibition" because they had the facilities to attract a world class exhibition. It attracted over 135,000 people over 3 months and injected about $17 million into the local economy - not a bad result I would say. We could do the same if we had the right facilities but how do we get there? The Federal Government has agreed to put in $3.5 million and our Council has also agreed to make a contribution but the NSW government will not put in the last bit of funding. So why don't we look to art lovers, philanthropists and other benefactors for a contribution?
Let's use our imagination and find people who would love to make a contribution to Albury.
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