REPRESENTATIVES from various groups are banding together to advocate for the use of the old Bannockburn Shire Hall as a potential as a community space.<\/p>\n
The commercial use of the space, located at 12 High Street is currently again being sought by Golden Plains Shire staff through an extended two-month expression of interest that\u2019s set to close at the end of September.<\/p>\n
The hall had been put out for rent a number of times during the last two years with no tenant found for the space.<\/p>\n
For the past month, members of GP Arts, and Friends of the Bannockburn Bush have been crafting their own submission to have the hall rebranded as the \u201cGolden Plains Centre for Arts, Culture, Heritage and Environment.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of the key campaigners is Rosslyn Bosnar and she\u2019s a member of GP Arts as well its local subgroup Bannockburn Arts.<\/p>\n
She said the building would be best served as a community asset.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s such a lovely old building,\u201d she said. \u201cIt should be used for community things like a gallery space, a place for meetings, or some mixed community-use premises.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt can be used for all sorts of things. Lions Club are interested, so are Friends of Bannockburn Bush, Bannockburn Inclusive. There\u2019s a lot of community support behind this.<\/p>\n
\u201cCouncil seem to want it as a commercial return. It\u2019s more beneficial to have it used as a shared building.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019ll allow a home for people who want to do things for the community under the one place.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Bosnar said she\u2019s been individually lobbying to have the site be used as a community space for the past two decades.<\/p>\n
Another organiser is Friends of Bannockburn Bush, and Geelong Landcare Network\u2019s Stuart McCallum, who said the town is in need of a new community space.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt seems such a waste to have a building like that and not have it for that purpose when other areas in Golden Plains have their spaces,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEspecially as an art gallery, Bannockburn doesn\u2019t have that. If you want to have a meeting as well, you have to book a room at the cultural centre. They\u2019ve only got so many space.\u201d<\/p>\n
The combined group\u2019s proposal suggests the space could be used for community displays, as well as workshops and get-togethers.<\/p>\n
The proposal has received more than 30 letters of support and more than 70 signatures from community group and local business representatives respectively.<\/p>\n
The building had previously been used as council chambers before meetings were moved to the Bannockburn Civic Centre in 2020 following that site\u2019s construction.<\/p>\n
The old Shire Hall is currently vacant and was last used as a COVID vaccination centre.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for the municipality said the Bannockburn Shire Hall is an ideal location to help activate the town\u2019s central business district.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe site was rezoned by council from public purpose to a commercial 1 zone after council moved its operations into the Civic Centre in 2020,\u201d the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn relation to commercial or retail sites in Bannockburn generally, there is an identified shortage of suitable properties to accommodate retail and commercial activities to support the growing population.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven its prominent location on the main street of Bannockburn, in close proximity to the major retail space of Bannockburn Plaza and the lack of commercial zoned land in Bannockburn, the building was considered to be ideal to assist in activating the Bannockburn CBD.\u201d<\/p>\n
Similar commercial EOI periods for the space were held by the municipality in May and November 2020.<\/p>\n
The spokesperson said a decision has yet to be made on the future of the building.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo decision has yet been made to lease the property,\u201d the spokesperson said. \u201cA public EOI process is currently underway and following consideration of submissions, a decision to lease will be made.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe cost to council for any proposed use of the space, commercial or community, would be considered based on the successful EOI.<\/p>\n
\u201cCouncil incurs costs related to maintenance of any council-owned property. Rent paid by tenants contributes to maintenance and other building related expenses.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny changes to the space would be negotiated with the successful tenant, following the EOI process.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
REPRESENTATIVES from various groups are banding together to advocate for the use of the old Bannockburn Shire Hall as a potential as a community space. The commercial use of the space, located at 12 High Street is currently again being sought by Golden Plains Shire staff through an extended two-month expression of interest that\u2019s set […]<\/p>\n