By JONATHON HOWARD
THE Cooroy Butter Factory received more than 5000 visitors during the first quarter of 2014, but the future use of the Cooroy Butter Factory is up for debate and Noosa Council is seeking fresh ideas to improve its currently “unsustainable” service model.
Noosa Council purchased the iconic red brick building on Maple Street in the 1990s and it was initially co-ordinated by a local community group, but after the group ended the building was taken over by council three years ago.
It has since been operated as a community arts hub under the title Cooroy Butter Factory Arts Centre (BFAC) and attracts about 54 visitors per day.
However, the council’s community services director Alan (Fox) Rogers has revealed the current operational model is “simply unsustainable”.
“The Cooroy Butter Factory has a long and rich history and the council wants to talk with people about a new and sustainable future for the building,” he said.
“Unfortunately, the operational model currently in place is simply unsustainable.
“We are looking for a community partnership to identify a more cost-effective way to use and manage the space.”
One solution put to Mr Rogers was whether a Cooroy community group could take over the daily operations of the facility.
“We’re looking at a range of options and the council is open to suggestions,” he said.
Mr Rogers said that during the next few months the council would explore a range of options for the Butter Factory’s future and implement a new direction that respects community priorities.
The council will host a public workshop on Wednesday 27 August, at 6pm, to discuss the future of the factory.
The Cooroy Butter Factory was built in 1930 and took the place of the original timber factory constructed in 1915.
For more about art workshops and current exhibitions at the Butter Factory Arts Centre phone (07) 5454 9050.
