HOBART.- Mona’s development application for Motown has been submitted to Crown Land Services and Glenorchy City Council. Once Crown approval has been granted, the development application assessment process will formally commence with Glenorchy City Council. When the Glenorchy City Council assessment process begins, members of the public will have the opportunity to comment. This is expected to take place in the new year.

Motown will include a five star, 176-room hotel, 1075-seat theatre, a new multi-purpose conference centre (with capacity for 1000 people for a banquet-style gala dinner and 1600 people for a plenary-style event), a spa designed by artists James Turrell and Marina Abramović, playgrounds designed by Toshiko MacAdam, Tom Otterness and Daily tous les jours, more gallery space, and office space for Mona staff. The centrepiece of the Motown experience will be a library, which will house David and his mates’ collection of books, maps, documents, and weird stuff.

“Since I presented a preliminary proposal in 2017, a great deal, including the name, has changed. In particular, the facade has been altered to present more harmoniously with the exterior of the museum,” David Walsh, Founder, Mona, said.

“Although the approval process has been initiated, there is still much to do. The funding package is far from finalised and, of course, we will be seeking input about many aspects of the development from the local and wider communities”, David said. Even after all requirements are met, there still may be a delay before construction commences. “If all goes well, we are working towards a completion date in 2024.”

At a cost of more than $400 million, this development will be one of the largest developments to take place on the Berriedale peninsula. The museum will retain its place as the fulcrum of the site.

Mark Wilsdon, Co-CEO, Mona, said: “We envisage that the new development will operate as part of the Mona experience, which has a foundation on the integration of art and performance in conjunction with hospitality, food and beverage. Motown will build on and expand this complete visitor experience. This will be great for Mona’s sustainability, and—more broadly—Tasmanians, who we expect will reap the ensuing tourism, social and economic benefits of the development.”

The entire project will create over 450 full time construction jobs. When operating, Motown will increase Mona’s staff numbers by 120.

Mona museum will stay open throughout the construction of Motown.

Mark Wilsdon, Co-CEO, Mona, said: “We’re working to do everything we can to ensure any foreseeable impact to our neighbours, staff and visitors during our proposed construction process is minimised.”

“We have been working with Glenorchy City Council and neighbouring organisations on an access solution for building works and traffic. Traffic from the building site won’t use the main entrance to the museum. To minimise disruption to the site and surrounding area, a construction base will be established on the old caravan park that is located to the north of the Mona site. This will be established as part of the development application process.”