After a vocal campaign to save Wollongong Town Hall from the wrecking ball, not one member of the community had anything to say about the $5.4 million plan to save the historic building.
Wollongong City Council confirmed yesterday that no submissions - either objections or comments in support - were received during the six-week public exhibition, which ended on Friday.
The development application is now being assessed by council planners.
Mission to make Wollongong Town Hall fab again
Wollongong Town Hall refurbishment [PDF] However, community group Neighbourhood Forum 5 has requested an extension to make a submission after meeting last Wednesday night.
Forum convenor Felix Bronneberg said a majority at the meeting supported a minor change to the design, but were otherwise pleased the council was moving ahead with the refurbishment.
"We congratulate the council and the state architects' office on the plans for the refurbishment of the town hall," Mr Bronneberg said.
"But we would request that the proposal for the ribbed zinc panelling on the Kembla St frontage be reviewed and an alternative material be considered in keeping with the materials of the adjacent buildings and the precinct as a whole."
Irene and Keith Tognetti were active campaigners to save Wollongong Town Hall and their son, Australian Chamber Orchestra artistic director and violinist Richard Tognetti, performed at the venue in May 2008 to show off its acoustics.
"We discussed putting in a submission, but didn't because we were in favour of the plan," Mrs Tognetti said.
She hoped the silence was a sign of community satisfaction with the plans and said the involvement of the NSW Government Architect was terrific.
"We are really delighted the town hall will be restored and we will have a performance space back for the community," she said.
The chair of the Illawarra-Shoalhaven branch of the National Trust, Meredith Hutton, said the heritage group had met council staff and the architects during the process.
"Overall we are very happy that the town hall is being refurbished and very happy they are improving the facilities for the performers," Ms Hutton said.
"They are keeping the original floor area and the original shape of the main hall so the acoustics won't be altered."
She said the council had listened to the National Trust's concerns a year ago.
"The National Trust was really vocal in supporting the town hall in the first place and opposed its demolition," Ms Hutton said.
Email a friend