Hall project wins $3m

By Kath Gannaway
HEALESVILLE Memorial Hall is a giant step closer to starting stage two of the long-awaited upgrade thanks to a $2.9 million Federal Government grant.
Bill Shorten, Parliamentary Secretary for Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction joined Shire of Yarra Ranges mayor Len Cox on Friday to make the announcement.
The funding is part of the government’s stimulus package under its $800 million Community Infrastructure Program.
The shire has committed $3.3 million to the project towards the three-stage $6.8 million redevelopment.
The first stage involves the relocation of Healesville Library and the Shire Community Link to the Swinburne building which the shire recently negotiated with Swinburne to lease.
Stage Two is all about the Memorial Hall and stands independent of the other stages.
It will see a major upgrade and extension of the hall complex across three floors to cater for the needs of performing arts, visual arts exhibitions and sales, and community meetings and activities.
Representatives of many of the hall’s user groups were at the announcement, where Mr Shorten spoke of the important role facilities such as local halls played in bringing together the fabric of communities.
He said he had been to the hall recently in his bushfire reconstruction role and appreciated how important it was to the Healesville community.
He said he had seen a return to old-fashioned communication.
“Sometimes it’s easy with internet, television or phones and while they are all important nothing makes for the transmission of communication and the transmission of ideas or the transmission of community like face-to-face gatherings,” he said.
Cr Cox said the project was one the community had supported for more than a decade.
“The work that the council and the community have done in planning and developing this project is amazing and this funding is confirmation that this work has been worthwhile,” he said.
Cr Jeanette McRae praised the work of the council’s arts, culture and heritage team members who, she said, had spent a considerable amount of time on the funding submission, as well as the community members involved in the consultation process.
She also thanked Seymour MP Ben Hardman who, she said, had lobbied on behalf of the council for the funding.
“When this exciting development is completed we will have a truly outstanding integrated arts and community precinct featuring community meeting and training rooms, a new library and a performing arts and exhibition space,” she said.