At Shoalhaven City Council’s ordinary meeting the community heard Mayor Greg Watson and councillors admit to making a mistake in looking for buyers for the cinema building.

However Cr Watson also revealed there had been “issues with the current lessee”.

General manager Russ Pigg was asked by Cr John Willmott to

disclose details that were previously discussed confidentially by councillors.

Mr Pigg said: “The matter was brought before the property steering committee simply because there were some issues between council and the lessee.

“And council had considered the issue and had given some concessions to the lessee in an attempt to keep the centre viable and operating,” he said.

Those issues were what Cr Willmott said had led to him spearheading calls for potential buyers as well as leasers who might possibly revamp the cinema.

“It is a case with these facilities in small villages that you use it or you lose it,” he said.

“Council cannot continually prop up unviable and under-utilised facilities and I hope now that this has been highlighted with the community that this centre does get a higher level of use.”

Cr John Finkernagel said upgrading the cinema should include installing a digital projector, which had been costed at $17,000 with the community already expressing a desire to work with council to raise the funds.

“I know at present the Rotary Club and other service clubs may well get involved,” he said.

“It has really consolidated and drawn the whole community together to fight for something they probably don’t use as much as they should.

“But I can guarantee that future screenings of movies in that theatre, it will be packed because people are suddenly saying this is a great, quaint little theatre, it has an enormous amount of history, and people will use it.”

Cr Richard Bates said he had opposed the sale of the theatre all along, but now hoped the community would support and use the

cinema.

Cr Watson said he was aware there were a number of community groups interested in putting propositions forward to take over the lease and run the cinema.

A report will be compiled and returned to council on the potential upgrade of the cinema building.

Council resolved to call for expressions of interest for the lease of the building.