Civic Centre upgrade to add colour to local events

Longreach now boasts one of the most technically advanced live entertainment venues in Outback Queensland, with the completion of a major audio-visual upgrade to the Longreach Civic Centre.

The upgrade includes a completely new sound system, with powerful line array speakers overhead and built in sub-woofers installed under the stage. A new digital LED lighting system can replicate a full spectrum of colour combinations, and two new high-definition digital projectors will make presentations and video more dynamic.

The new equipment is fully programmable from a state-of-the-art control desk at the back of the hall, or it can be operated easily by novice users from an automated control rack at the side of the stage. The new technology brings the Longreach Civic Centre up to modern standards and it is hoped the improvements will lead to more opportunities for touring productions to consider the venue.

Longreach Regional Council invested in the upgrade with assistance from the Commonwealth Government Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program. Mayor Tony Rayner said the replacement of equipment at the Civic Centre was long overdue.

“Our community knows all too well what the limitations of the old equipment were” he said. “Our dedicated staff, and community volunteers alike, have struggled at times to make things work in the hall.

“We’ve made do for a long time but now our talented community groups finally have the lighting and sound that they deserve.”

The new equipment had its first outing over the 19-21 February when the venue hosted over 150 delegates for the CQWA annual conference.