Preferred operator for former Winchelsea Shire hall drops out

THE Surf Coast Shire council has hit a setback after its preferred but undisclosed lessee for the former Winchelsea Shire hall changed their mind about setting up a new food business at the venue.
The council ran an expression of interest process to find a suitable tenant for the hall and endorsed the choice behind closed doors at a special council meeting on April 28.
Preparations for the lessee to move into the building began from that point, but the council announced on Monday this week that the lessee had “decided not to proceed”.
The Surf Coast Shire council is unclear on what it will do next about securing a tenant for the hall.
“Due to the impacts of COVID-19 and the uncertainty of the current economic situation, it seems that the proposed business isn’t possible at this point in time,” the council’s general manager of culture and community Chris Pike said.
“It’s disappointing news for everyone involved but it’s understandable. We know that many businesses are doing it tough and so it’s not all that surprising that someone would have to change their plans in the current environment.
“Council has only recently learned of this situation and so we’re yet to work through the next steps.
“The community vision for the Former Winchelsea Shire Hall, developed in 2019, is that it will be an active and inclusive place, supporting community connection and contributing to a vibrant town centre.
“Despite the extraordinary challenge of the pandemic, we’ll keep working together to find a way to realise this vision.”
The motion about the former Winchelsea Shire hall expression of interest update and lease agreement was declared confidential at the April 28 meeting because it involved contractual matters.
The motion was carried seven votes to one, with Cr Heather Wellington the lone vote in opposition.
According to a community working group set up to provide input on the hall’s future, potential lease applicants must meet four criteria:

• A passion for Winchelsea and district
• Knowledge of its natural, economic, social, cultural and physical assets
• Knowledge of its people and networks, and
• A track record of delivering activities that provide community benefit.