However, the local hall committee has stepped in and offered to buy the building in order to save it.
The council told the hall committee last year not to use the hall any longer as it was deemed unsafe.
The committee is resisting moves to close the hall, but council officers had already begun getting quotations for demolition and estimates on the value of the property.
While acknowledging the hall needs improvements, the committee has challenged the building surveyor’s final assessment that the building was not safe and secured a different engineer’s report, which says the hall could be used with some restrictions.
The committee is seeking support from the council for a more thorough engineer’s examination.
Documents released to Country News under Freedom of Information legislation show the Wyuna hall’s destiny was being challenged years ago.
In 2009, the council developed a Strategic Resources Plan, which set in motion a review of council assets, facilities and service delivery across the shire.
This led to the ‘Places of Assembly/Community Facilities’ policy, adopted in February 2015.
The report describes the history of how public halls developed, many of them built by small communities in the horse and cart days when limited transport options meant that halls were required close to where people lived.
“Councils have subsequently inherited ownership of the buildings as service perspectives and community expectations have changed,” the report found.
A major driver for the review of halls was to save money for the shire.
Council’s policy documentation from 2017 shows there could be a capital reduction of about $25 million, resulting in less annual capital depreciation of $547,000.
The figures demonstrate a possible minimum rate reduction of two per cent associated with the decommissioning of facilities.
A 2017 report notes the costs of resourcing the review plan could be offset by the savings.
“For example, the saving on a single renewal project of $400,000 to $600,000 would fund a full-time officer, band 7, for three years ($120,000 p.a. plus on costs).
“Implementation of the policy at the earliest opportunity is recommended as a strategically and fiscally responsible initiative by council.”
The council was also expecting some negative comments.
“There is a high probability that the implantation of this policy will generate a level of public concern based on the belief that services are being reduced, along with a sense of loss of past identity for some localities,” a report to council stated.
“The potential for emotive reaction is likely to be stimulated by sensationalist media coverage.”
Very little is said in council documents about the other side of the coin, where growing communities might be demanding better facilities.
That might be because the report notes there is no legislative requirement for councils to provide a place of assembly, and it points out the major population centre in Campaspe Shire, Echuca, does not have a council-owned public hall.
The ‘Places of Assembly’ policy remarks that Campaspe Shire can be covered with seven places of assembly, within 10 to 15 minutes travel time.
Next week: How Campaspe Shire Council developed its policies impacting on public halls.
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