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27th July 2010 11:06:05 AM

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Building confidence … Clonbinane residents Lew Sowlsvy, Mike Hymer, Nick Haslinghouse and Jaqcui Sims met on Ryans Rd last week to discuss plans for the new community hall. 50525

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THE Clonbinane community is being invited to have its say on the design of a new community hall.

A community hall was identified as the number one priority by locals after the Black Saturday bushfires and grants of $720,000 have now been secured to build the new facility next to the fire station in Ryan’s Rd.

Project member Michael Hymer, who is helping oversee the design and construction of the new hall, said the lack of public facilities in Clonbinane became critical following the fires when relief efforts had to be carried out from the already over-stretched fire station.

“The new hall will become an important meeting place for Clonbinane people with facilities for community activities and services and is being designed as a multi-purpose building that will provide access for all,” said Mr Hymer.

“The hall will be built using an environmentally-friendly des-ign and is expected to seat up to 100 people.”

Mr Hymer said the hall would include modern kitchen and toilet facilities, storage space and adaptable internal and external spaces to accommodate the needs of different user groups.

Mitchell Shire Council made $499,000 in funding available for the hall from the Community Project Initiative with a further $200,000 coming from the Victorian Bushfire Appeal community assistance fund.

An additional $20,000 was also received from the District Council of Grant in South Australia.

Mr Hymer said work was already under way with a project control group made up of community members established. An architect has also been engaged to develop concepts for community consideration.

“It is really exciting that the people of Clonbinane are finally getting a public building that will meet its needs,” Mr Hymer said.

“We are sure the new hall will become a much-needed central focus for the local community that will also be a great, modern, environmentally-friendly, multi-purpose facility.”

The project group is now inviting input from the community on design plans and the preliminary plans can be viewed on a notice board near the water towers in Linton St, Clonbinane.

Community members have until 6 August to provide feedback on the two design options by means of an on-line survey on the Clonbinane community website.

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