Community Centre reopened after renos

CITY of Ballarat North Ward councillor Amy Johnson officially opened stage one of the renovations at Ballarat North Community Centre last week.

About 80 members of the community applauded loudly and heartily in celebration of the upgrade of the site.

Ian Cunningham, President of the Ballarat North Senior Citizens said he and the club are thrilled with the new look of the original 1970s centre.

“It was terribly rundown and now with the changes to the building our membership has increased and people are coming together,” he said.

“The neighbourhood can see how good it looks and all the activity, it has really rejuvenated the whole area.”

The centre, one of the most popular community facilities in Ballarat, houses the Ballarat University of the Third Age and the Genesis Church as well as the Senior Citizens Club.

Phillip Grant, President of the U3A said more than 130 classes are presented by U3A at the centre.

“With the removal of the old stage and the rest of the renovations we now have greater flexibility in delivering our programs,” he said.

City of Ballarat invested $675,000 in the works, implemented as part of the Midlands Reserve Master Plan.

The project included removing the redundant stage, increasing the floor space of the main hall, upgrading the foyer area and north entrance with the addition of external cladding, a new roof and solar panels.

Completion of the upgrade of the north carpark is imminent.

Stage two, which is covered in the council’s next budget, will see the replacement of the old floor in the rear of the main hall as well as fitting a new kitchen.