OLD seating that was in the Hamilton Performing Arts Centre (PAC) was recently seen dumped at the Hamilton Transfer Station, prompting questions about the effort made to reuse them in some way within the Shire.

Local resident, Bob Downes, went to the tip on Saturday, May 6, only to spot the pile of seats dumped out in the open and wondered if that might have been a waste of resources.

“I looked across at the scrap metal pile and I see all these seats,” he said.

Mr Downes said he took a photo and believed there may have been a missed opportunity to use them at HILAC for basketball viewing or other purposes.

“Occasionally I go up there,” he said.

“I went up and I had a look at the row of concrete seating the runs up the back wall.

I thought why couldn’t they have put two or three rows, or maybe four rows of seats along there to make it more comfortable for the people that are viewing the game?”

After being queried about the pile, The Spectator received a response from the Southern Grampians Shire Community, Planning and Regulation director claiming more than half of the seats found a new location.

“The PAC were able to rehome at least 50 per cent of the almost 500 seats through an extensive rehoming program in which seats were offered to community groups, schools, kinders, businesses and individuals across south-west Victoria,” the statement said.

“This process was advertised extensively through our networks and through social media, radio, and newspaper.

“We’re delighted to have been able to donate 250 plus seats to groups such as Hamilton’s amateur dramatics society - Dramus, Baimbridge College, Tarrington Cricket Club and the locally-based Australian Blackball International Federation, alongside to a host of businesses and local people.

“Unfortunately, due to age, structure, and configuration to retrofit existing spaces, not all of the seats were able to be rehomed in time for us to make way for the brand-new seats we’re currently installing.

“The seats are being replaced due to their age (30 years) and the fact that they fail to meet the expectations of contemporary audiences.

“Therefore, repurposing them within Council facilities is not a suitable option.

“The remaining seats have not been dumped out at the transfer station. They were placed in the scrap metal pile in preparation for collection by the metal buyers in bulk.

“Unfortunately, due to the construction and components, the dismantling of seats for recycling opportunities locally was cost prohibitive.

“Sims Metal Recycling was found to be the most cost-effective solution and they will be collecting and transporting the chairs to Melbourne in bulk to be recycled for materials.”