The Argus has been surveying online readers via three straw polls on the Argus website to get a feel for what members of the community think about the project.

In an article published on the Argus website on November 22 titled ‘Kempsey cinema: councillors butt heads to reach final decision’, online readers were invited to participate in an online straw poll asking ‘Do you support the Kempsey Cinema project?’.

Out of the 957 votes that were received, 51.52 per cent (493) said ‘no’ they do not support the cinema project, while 46.19 per cent (442) said ‘yes’ they do support the cinema project.

Following the council’s announcement to progress with the cinema, the owners of the Kempsey BandBox Theatre announced it would be opening its doors for the summer holidays. This sparked debate regarding competition between the BandBox and the new cinema. On November 28, in an online article titled ‘Kempsey BandBox Cinema opens doors’, readers were asked whether council should upgrade the BandBox Cinema or build the new Kempsey Cinema instead. Out of the 379 votes received on the straw poll, 81.27 per cent (308) voted that the BandBox Theatre should be upgraded while 17.15 per cent (65) voted that the Kempsey Cinema should be built instead. Six voters chose the ‘other’ option on the poll.

Further, on November 29, in an online article titled ‘Have your say on the Kempsey Cinema’ readers were asked ‘What do you think about the Kempsey Cinema project?’. Out of the 433 participants in this poll, 47.34 per cent (205) said council should ‘Invest in the Bandbox Theatre’.

Meanwhile, 23.79 per cent (103) voted that council should move ahead with the Kempsey Cinema project. 10.62 per cent of voters (46) said a cinema is not needed in Kempsey while 9.47 per cent (41) said a cinema should be built but not as big as what is proposed in the Kempsey Cinema project. Just 8.78 per cent (38) of participants voted to ‘Build a Kempsey cinema, but not under the current funding model’. 

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The Argus has also published a number of Letters to the Editor supporting arguments for both sides of the debate. Some locals wrote in arguing the cinema will be “good for the town as a social hub” and that the project is “key to economic growth”.

Others argued that the project, which was knocked back by the Office of Local Government under the initial arrangement of a Public Private Partnership, has “questionable economic viability along with questionable economic modelling and research.”

Local resident, Renea Rootes began a change.org petition regarding the project which has been distributed online and in paper-form among local businesses. The petition has received over 500 online responses and 500 paper responses, according to Ms Rootes.

“I haven’t seen this town so angry about something for a long time,” Ms Rootes told the Argus.