NORTHERN Grampians Shire Council has welcomed the allocation of funding from the State Government to develop a community precinct on the Western Highway in Stawell.
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Deputy Premier Peter Ryan was in Stawell on Tuesday and announced that the Coalition government would commit $500,000 to the project, which would transform two heritage buildings into a functional and accessible community space.
Mayor, Cr Kevin Erwin said the Western Highway Community Precinct Development would link the old shire hall and the former courthouse.
"Council has sought community input this project and based on the feedback we have received, the new community precinct will include a gallery, meeting and conference area, research library and storage and function space," he said.
"These are facilities that are currently lacking in the community and would be beneficial to a large number of community and private sector users.
"Various community groups, schools and sporting clubs have already expressed an interest in using the facility to hold meetings, displays, fundraising events, promotions, awards nights and presentations, as well as store items.
"It will also be an ideal space for businesses to host product and service displays, conferences and regional meetings."
Cr Erwin said the Western Highway Community Precinct Development would accommodate the requirements of the Stawell Historical Society which currently resides in the former courthouse building.
"It has been important for us to work with the Stawell Historical Society to make sure that the facilities support the fantastic work they do preserving and displaying our community's heritage," he said.
The Western Highway Community Precinct Development is expected to be completed by July next year. Northern Grampians Shire Council is contributing $400,000 to the project, while the Stawell Historical Society has committed $100,000.
Cr Erwin said the Stawell Historical Society had made an approach to council several years ago, seeking additional space.
"The Stawell Historical Society will benefit greatly from this development," Cr Erwin said.
"We had an approach several years ago, with the members indicating to us that they were having trouble finding space for the storage of records and old newspapers. This has taken a few years, but it will come to fruition now.
"It will also greatly benefit the Stawell Lions Club with their Driver Reviver program."
Stawell Historical Society president, Dorothy Brumby, said she was grateful for the support of the Coalition government and the Northern Grampians Shire Council in making the development of the precinct possible.
"We have recognised for some time the need for additional space to store our records, many donated by Stawell residents and also former Stawell residents," Mrs Brumby said.
"Records including our old newspapers have been slowly deteriorating and this new precinct will allow us to store them in climate controlled storage areas.
"We were fortunate to receive a bequest in 2008 for the sum of $100,000. That gave us the impetus to appeal to the Northern Grampians Shire Council for assistance in obtaining a purpose built building to house these records.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Deputy Premier and his government and also the Northern Grampians Shire Council for their assistance and enthusiasm in making this happen."
Robert Kelly, representing the Stawell Lions Club, was also grateful his organisation was included in the project, which would greatly assist the club's 36 active members in the delivery of the vital Driver Reviver program.