Sydney Opera House - Financial Woes Could Cause Closure by 2011

Anyone who has either visited Sydney, Australia or viewed photos of Sydney Harbour can readily recognize the two iconic symbols of the city - the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. Sadly, financial woes have seriously affected the viability of the Opera House. Lives are reported to be at risk because ancient stage machinery needs urgent replacement and there is no funding to pay for the update. A senior Opera House source has revealed desperate government action is needed if the iconic venue is to remain open.

"The nation has used and abused the Opera House since day one but very few governments have put their hand up to contribute to overall maintenance," the source said.

Opera House chief executive Richard Evans confirmed there could be permanent closure of this major cultural centre if the State and Federal Government do not provide $800 million to replace stage machinery.

This year, a Boston Consulting Group was commissioned to assess the viability of the Opera House. The report produced indicates the Sydney Opera House will have immense funding pressure if it continues with a status-quo approach. The current level of activity will not be able to be maintained beyond financial year 2011.

Major problems with antique stage machinery
A leaked engineering report by Marshall Day Entertech and TheatrePlan LLP shows old stage machinery needs urgent replacement because of "significant problems in respect of its operations, its reliability and its control functions". "There is a real risk to persons on stage or being carried on the flying system from a malfunction or fault with this installation and a similar, although lesser, potential risk when people are carried on the transport elevator," the report warned, adding there could be "multiple fatalities". The theatre's "flying system" is said to be "non-compliant with current international codes and practice". The fault log indicates "far more incidents and disruption than should be expected".

The Boston report recommended the Opera House has to look at ways to save money and attempt to get more out of governments. The report further indicates there is "too much middle management" and "public sector redundancies" should be examined and seat prices should be increased.

Sydney Opera House historical facts
Sydney Opera House, situated on Bennelong Point that extends into the harbour, is one of the world's most recognizable landmarks. Designed by renowned Danish architect - Jorn Utzon (1918-2008), this dramatic structure resembles a ship in full sail. It is hard to remember Sydney Harbour without this impressive portal.

In the late 1950s the New South Wales (NSW) Government established an appeal fund to finance the construction of the Sydney Opera House, and conducted a competition for its design. Utzon's design was chosen even though it was beyond the capabilities of engineering of the time. Utzon spent a couple of years reworking the design and it was 1961 before he had solved the problem of how to build the distinguishing feature - the 'sails' of the roof.

Construction cost blow-outs tempted the NSW Government to call a halt. In 1966 there were arguments about cost and the interior design, and the Government withholding progress payments. When the situation reached crisis point, Jorn Utzon resigned from the project. The building was eventually completed in 1973 and opened in that year.

After more than 30 years, the Sydney Opera House incorporated its first interior designed by Utzon. The Utzon Room, a transformed reception hall that brings to life Jorn Utzon's original vision for his masterpiece, was officially opened on September 16 2004. The Sydney Opera House was included in the National Heritage List in 2005, and inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2007.

Sydney Opera House statistics
-designed by Danish architect Jorn Utzon
-opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 20 October 1973
-first performance, the Australian Opera's production of War and Peace by Prokofiev
-cost $AU 102,000,000 to build
-conducts 3000 events each year
-provides guided tours to 200,000 people each year
-has an annual audience of 2 million for its performances
-includes 1000 rooms and is 185 metres long and 120 metres wide
-has 2194 pre-cast concrete sections as its roof
-has roof sections weighing up to 15 tons held together by 350 km of tensioned steel cable
-has over 1 million tiles on the roof
-uses 6225 square metres of glass and 645 kilometres of electric cable

Sydney Opera House - outdoor venue for a range of events
The plaza around the Sydney Opera House is frequently used for outdoor concerts and other events of significance in Sydney. It is the site for New Year's Eve celebrations and many other festivals.

The Sydney Opera House plaza was recently the venue for Australian Solo sailor Jessica Watson's historic homecoming on 12 May 2010. The city hosted a huge "welcome home" to the Sunshine Coast teenager. More than 5,000 people crowded around the Opera House plaza to witness the event.

A scheduled concert by Canadian pop star Justin Bieber, which was to be held in late April in the forecourt at the Overseas Ferry Terminal near Sydney Opera House, was shut down due to insufficient crowd control and the threat of injury by crowd crush of 5,000 screaming teenage girls.

Government funding? What government funding?
In April 2009, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd reportedly hit the roof after The Daily Telegraph revealed former NSW premier Nathan Rees planned a $900 million rebuild. A year later, there is still no decision about the government funding proposed by Mr Rees. This funding is necessary and urgent.

It will be a shame if the Sydney Opera House has to be closed. It is an important part of Sydney's cultural activity. It should be managed and maintained in a manner befitting its prominence on the harbour and its role as a venue for important artistic events.

Sources:
http://www.news.com.au/national/how-sydneys-iconic-opera-house-is-at-risk-of-financial-tragedy/story-e6frfkvr-1225873234562

http://www.google.com.au/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&channel=s&hl=en&source=hp&q=Federal+government+funding+for+Sydney+Opera+House&meta=&btnG=Google+Search

http://www.news.com.au/national/icon-in-line-for-1-billion-rescue/story-e6frfkvr-1225699508741

http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/sydneyoperahouse/