By Brendan Rees
Casey Council will write another letter to the State Government desperately seeking funds to restore the Cranbourne Public Hall – despite a year without a response.
Council officers have made multiple attempts through emails and phone calls to seek the support of Deputy Secretary of Local Infrastructure and the Minister of Energy Environment and Climate Change, but have not received a response to date.
Cr Amanda Stapledon said Casey Council was hopeful in obtaining about $2 million to restore the hall to its former glory.
“All we’re asking is for them to consider our request and let us know what they’re thinking,” she said
“We would’ve expected them to come back to us, definitely. A year is a long time. We need their help.”
Casey Council resolved at a council meeting on 20 March to write to the Energy, Environment and Climate Change Minister Lily D’Ambrosio calling on the State Government to provide funding opportunities to restore the hall, which was built in 1973 on crown land.
Councillors agreed to request two separate meetings, one with Member for Cranbourne Jude Perera and Ms D’Ambrosio, and another with the State Opposition in seeking funding to upgrade the hall.
Cr Stapledon said the hall was a wonderful community facility but was dilapidating.
“It would be wonderful to see it able to provide modern facilities,” she said.
“A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into fund raising and constructing this hall many years ago. It is very loved by the community now and historically.”
Cranbourne Public Hall president Judy Davis said the committee could only carry out smaller jobs.
“We’re just trying to keep on top and do things as we can afford them,” she said.
Ms Davis said upgrading the asphalt in the carpark would cost the hall nearly $200,000, which was simply out of reach.
“On top of that you’ve got to include the drainage. You’ve also got to have a civil engineer to get your all levels right.”
She said it wasn’t good enough that either state party had responded to the council’s requests.
“We’re caught between a rock and a hard place because we’ve got nothing. We’re sitting here with a hall that badly in need of funds and we’ve got nothing.”
“If the State Government would put in money to do it all, it could all be done and bring this place up beautifully,” Ms Davis said.
“We’re a non-profit and we do things where we can and thank the Casey Council because they have helped us.”
A report will come back to Council once these meetings have taken place with the Labor and Liberal party members.
