General News
13 July, 2022
Out with the old, in with the new
PROCEEDS from the sale of the old Garvoc Hall will be counted towards the community’s contribution to the construction of the new Garvoc Community Hub.
PROCEEDS from the sale of the old Garvoc Hall will be counted towards the community’s contribution to the construction of the new Garvoc Community Hub.
Councillors voted unanimously (5:0, with Cr Gleeson and Cr Lockett absent) at the July Ordinary Meeting of Council to direct $23,806 from the sale of the old Garvoc Hall towards the Garvoc Residents Group’s contribution to the construction costs of the community hub.
The report before council noted the group’s contribution towards the development of the new hub stood at $2826.
In addition, the Garvoc Residents Incorporated has previously donated $14,000 towards works including $7000 to connect power to the tennis court, $6000 to upgrade the kitchen appliances and $1000 to connect power to the hub.
Taking in to account proceeds from the sale of the old Garvoc Hall, the total contribution for the project from the Garvoc Residents Group stands at $37,800.
Cr Daniel Meade, the mover of the motion, said the opportunity to allocate the proceeds towards the group’s contribution highlighted “...if a community can put in a lot of hard work to fundraise for different things within their community, something like this can come off”.
“They’re certainly very proud of the new hall that’s on offer there,” he said.
“The old hall was gifted to the community and held many great events for the 120 years it was there, but it certainly reached its useby date."
“The new community hub that’s on offer there now has reactivated the community and brought a lot of people back to use the facility so far since it has been opened.”
Cr Meade praised what the Garvoc Residents Group had accomplished since the new hall was opened earlier this year.
“They’ve had a magnificent Good Friday Appeal where they’ve raised a lot of money ($26,665) for a great cause, and also had several community dinners and held a lot of workshops and training events in there for several different organisations,” he said.
“It goes to show if you build it, peopledo come."
“The Garvoc community have put in a fair bit of money to some of the extra add-ons already, which wasn’t initially budgeted for, so they’ve put some money in to it.”
Cr Jim Doukas, who seconded the motion, said it was “only fair” for the shire to support a community group after years of hard work to bring the new hall to fruition.
“The body of the report highlights the Garvoc Residents Group have gone and spent a bit more money than what was required,”he said.
“In saying that, they’ve spent money on power upgrades and kitchen upgrades to make it a better place and the surrounds a better, more usable place."
“It’s only fair that we, the shire, with the funds from the sale of the hall could help that community finalise the final figure, pay all the bills and then they can sit back and enjoy the fruits of their efforts."
“During COVID fundraising isn’t easy and they’ve done a wonderful job, so this is our way of saying thank you to those volunteers who put in all the hard yards.”