Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre is currently closed, undergoing planned upgrades to maintain the venue's reputation as the premier performing arts location on the South Coast.
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The work, which is stage two of the centre's planned improvements, will see an upgrade to sound, lightning and audio-visual systems, a redesign of the centre's Encore Cafe and Bar to improve accessibility, all aimed to enhance customer experience.
Works will include an expansion of the fire sprinkler system and improvements to the venue's public art, landscaping, and a new loading dock shelter to increase accessibility of equipment to the venue irrespective of weather.
The doors of the entertainment centre are expected to reopen in April.
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In the meantime, the Shoalhaven Visitor Information Service and the Entertainment Centre's box office will operate from the Shoalhaven City Council's adjacent administration building foyer in Nowra.
The Encore Café is also again operating in pop-up mode at the administration building.
It's been an interrupted time for the centre, which reopened last May after a 14 months hiatus due to COVID-19 restrictions and the upgrade works which began in December 2020, which also included exterior cladding being replaced.
The replacement product of the red cladding is an Australian made non-combustible solid aluminium sheeting called Olamclad which fully complies with the Building Code of Australia.
Council has engaged local construction company Duratec to undertake the sprinkler works with support from Architects Edmiston Jones, Warren Smith Consulting Engineers and Taylor and Partners Quantity Surveyors.
The landscaping will be undertaken by Publiq Commercial, with the lighting being supplied and installed by Gerard Lighting Group.
The landscaping works are funded by the NSW Government through the Streets as Shared Spaces Grant and will include provision for an outdoor stage, street furniture and the installation of a sculpture by Kangaroo Valley artist Greer Taylor.
During the work the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre, including the rear car park, will be closed for a period of three months reopening in early April 2022.
Shoalhaven City Council Director, Jane Lewis said while the "doors will be open again in time for one of the most exciting seasons the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre has seen."
"The Love it Live 2022 Season will be like no other on the South Coast with curated theatre, music and performances including performances at the Ulladulla Civic Centre, Kangaroo Valley, as well as the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre," Ms Lewis said.
"When the doors open again after the essential works are completed, there will be a range of high calibre performances including National Treasure John Bell in With Love, Amadeus, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, The Whitlams, Lior, Royal Australian Navy Band, Ross Noble, and Human Nature."