The Midnite Cafe has secured a long-term lease in a boost to its efforts for Dubbo's youth.
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The drug-and-alcohol-free entertainment activity will operate from the Dubbo Pipe Band Hall in Victoria Park for three years at an annual hire fee of $6000 in cash or capital upgrades.
Dubbo City Council this week confirmed the arrangement negotiated with Orana Education and Training Cooperative (OEC), the Midnite Cafe's auspicing body since 2011.
The vote brings to an end the community project's long search for a permanent venue in Dubbo's central business district since it began in 2007.
The decision was made on the advice of community services director David Dwyer.
The OEC was looking for a venue that would not require the unpacking and packing of the cafe's equipment - a small stage, lounges, audio system and other items - after each event, Mr Dwyer said in a report to a council committee meeting.
He regarded the hire arrangement as "more of a community service partnership arrangement", not a strict commercial arrangement.
The director said the hire arrangement would enable capital upgrades to be undertaken and was also good for the community.
"The Midnite Cafe provides a wonderful drug-and-alcohol-free entertainment activity for Dubbo youth," he said.
"It is well attended and also provides opportunities for novice musicians and other entertainers to perform publicly and gain experience."
The Dubbo City Youth Council made submissions to the council supporting the Midnite Cafe, which has been held monthly.
The OEC had signed an agreement with the Dubbo and District Pipe Band, the hall's other user, he said.
The hire arrangement would result in no other hirers being able to gain access to the venue, but the council had a range of venues which would still be available, he said.
They included rooms at the Western Plains Cultural Centre's Community Arts Centre, South Dubbo Girl Guides Hall, South Dubbo Boy Scouts Hall, Wongarbon Hall and the Dubbo Branch Library's meeting room.