Work is almost completed on the second cinema and the much needed disabled toilet at Narooma Kinema, housed in Narooma School of Arts Memorial Hall.
Narooma School of Arts president Jock Munro said the disabled toilet is just waiting on final approval from Eurobodalla Shire Council.
“I know the new loo will be greatly welcomed by many cinema patrons,” Mr Munro said.
Mr Griffiths said there is still some work to be done on the new second cinema in the old library which was formerly the old hall’s supper room.
“We’re waiting on a piece of equipment from America for the sound system,” Mr Griffiths said, adding that he hopes to open the new cinema sometime next month.
Mr Munro said the art house or boutique cinema will be quite special.
“It will give the Griffiths greater flexibility exhibiting films and also holding associated functions, plus meeting the exacting demands of film distributors.”
The Memorial Hall housing the cinema belongs to the people of Narooma and is held in trust for the community by the Narooma School of Arts & Soldiers’ War Memorial Hall organisation.
The School of Arts leases the cinema to independent cinema operators John and Janette Griffiths.
The new cinema and disabled toilet were done under a joint development application between the School of Arts and the Griffiths.
“The School of Arts’ part was to build the disabled toilet and associated foyer which we have done using H & A Builders,” Mr Munro said.
“We are really grateful to Allan Bray and his team for holding their price for about 18 months which enabled us to go ahead with this.
“They did that because they appreciated this was something for our community.”
Eurobodalla Shire Council gave the School of Arts a $17,000 interest free loan to helppay for it.
Mr Munro said the Griffiths are totally responsible for converting the old library space into a boutique cinema.