Hall works get the green lightBy Glen Atwell

THE future of the asbestos-laden Cranbourne Public Hall has been assured after local MP Jude Perera announced State Government funding to repair the building.
The government will pay to have the asbestos removed and the affected sections of the hall recladded.
Mr Perera said the funding would give the City of Casey certainty, so it could undertake future upgrades of the 50-year-old hall.
“Once the clean-up is finished, Casey will be able to proceed with these important works,” Mr Perera said.
“The Cranbourne Public Hall is considered a valued community asset that is frequently used by local clubs and groups.
“Public spaces such as this provide a social hub for community members to undertake a range of activities.”
Asbestos was detected in 2006 when upgrades to the hall were on the drawing board.
Works were immediately discounted due to concerns about disturbing the asbestos, which experts consider low-risk when left intact and undisturbed.
“Appropriate measures are now in place to facilitate its removal from the hall and the City of Casey is currently obtaining quotes for the removal work,” Mr Perera said.
Cranbourne Public Hall committee of management secretary Hillary Cooper said it had taken years of ‘no’ before finally hearing a ‘yes’.
“We have been dealing with the City of Casey and Department of Sustainability and Environment for a long time, and we were constantly told there was no funding,” she said.
“Casey never said the asbestos wasn’t an issue, but just could not find the money to repair it.
“We’re just so glad that Jude Perera and the State Government have stepped in and taken action,” Ms Cooper said.
Normally the costs of asbestos removal would have been shared between Casey, the Cranbourne Public Hall committee of management and DSE.
“I take my hat off to all of the committee of management members who work so hard in making the Cranbourne Public Hall the place to hire in Cranbourne,” Mr Perera said.