What's the deal with 3D Radio?

We need to clear up the confusion over what would happen to 3D Radio if Council’s draft master plan for Linde Reserve/Dunstone Grove proceeds.

3D Radio operates out of a building on Council owned property at 48 Nelson Street. Council’s plan designates the property as

a non essential feature of [the] Reserve…determined on the basis that the property is located on the edge of the Reserve and is dominated by building structures utilised for activities [that don’t] necessarily need to be linked to the Reserve.

Council proposes to sell the property and relocate 3D radio, possibly within the St Peters precinct.

We feel this proposal, and the assumption underlying it, misses the myriad of social and artistic benefits 3D provides to the local community. If it were simply a matter of finding somewhere for Australia’s only fully volunteer operated community radio station to broadcast from we may be able to be persuaded of the value of their proposal. But 3D is much more than a broadcaster.

Among its many contributions to the local community 3D hosts the Hillbilly Hoot every Monday night. This is a live open mic event featuring local artists that happens in the stables at the rear of 48 Nelson Street each week. As there’s currently no fence between the Reserve and 48 Nelson Street it’s possible for fans to scatter their chairs and picnic rugs around the stables to enjoy the music. If 3D is re-located it’s highly likely this event will disappear from the precinct forever.

3D also brings over 150 hosts and guests each week to the Stepney studio and it has been conservatively estimated that these people are directly responsible for expenditure of over $300,000 a year in nearby shops, restaurants and service businesses. Given that Council has given no guarantee the station will be relocated within the same precinct there could be a significant loss to the local economy if 3D is moved from its present location.

Although we’re pleased that Council would relocate 3D Radio in the event 48 Nelson Street is sold we wonder how such a unique community organisation could ever have been classified as a “non-essential feature” of the reserve. 3D Radio is an essential feature of the Linde Arts Eco Park we propose as an alternative to Council’s plan.