Former library annexe to be a community meeting space
Published on 29 May 2018
Former Colac library annexe to become a free community meeting space
Community groups will soon have a free meeting venue to utilise after Councillors agreed to transform the former Colac library annexe into a joint use facility.
The annexe in Gellibrand Street was closed in 2015 and has had limited use since then. It has now been decided the annexe should be renovated and furnished as a meeting venue.
Mayor Joe McCracken said it would become a valuable joint-use space for the community, Council and commercial operators who would also be able to hire the venue.
“We will invest about $10,000 to repaint the room, lay new carpet and install meeting furniture in the next few months before the venue will become available for bookings,” he said.
“Priority use will be given to the community free of charge, however if it isn’t already booked the venue may be used for Council related meetings as well.
“What we’ve also done though is restrict internal bookings by the Council to no more than one month in advance to make sure the community has ample opportunity to get in first and pre-book the space.”
Cr McCracken said when the community or Council were not using the venue, it would be made available on a commercial basis at a corporate rate.
He said Councillors were pleased that the community’s desire to maintain use of the public building had been achieved.
“We undertook public consultation last year in regards to how the room should best be used. Over six weeks, we received five submissions and 33 people completed an online survey,” he said.
“Earlier this year, we heeded the community response and committed to refitting the venue for meetings and this week we formally agreed on the shared use and booking arrangements.
“Once the venue is finished and ready for bookings, we’ll let the community know how, and during what hours, bookings can be made.”
Cr McCracken said due to its close proximity, the Council remained open to the idea that the venue could one day be incorporated into an extension of COPACC.