YCAG President Jeanette Wilson posed the question to Moira Shire Council about where the evidence is relating to the future usage of the precinct.
“What evidence does Moira Shire have to back its assertion that the Yarrawonga Town Hall will be used more because of co-location with the library? What are these potential uses?” Mrs Wilson said.
“Will the library use the town hall for children’s story time, craft groups or literary luncheons? If so, why isn’t the town hall already used for them?
“Surely these activities are part of the justification for building a bigger library rather than intended uses for the town hall and could be comfortably accommodated in a building on the former Yarrawonga Primary School (YPS) site.”
Mrs Wilson believes the present plans would not adequately fit all the current facilities of the community hall and asked how these issues would be resolved.
“Potentially there will be less usage of the precinct for events other than library events because the cost of hiring the town hall is too high for monthly dances, community meetings or single events such as the January Matthew Fagan concert held in the community hall,” she said.
“The proposed 140m2 L-shaped multi-purpose space is inadequate and unless thoroughly soundproofed will prove impractical as a green room for theatre and choir events.
“The plans for option 4B are to be provided to tenderers for detailed design of the complex.
“Though there is to be another round of consultations on the detailed design, the fact remains that the Yarrawonga Town Hall precinct is too small to replicate the facilities of the community hall, 200m2, and kitchen, 70m2 storage shed, yoga portable, a large modern library, children’s outside play area, Shire Services Centre, parking and to retain a minimal green space.”
Mrs Wilson argues that the reduction of the Shire Services Centre to a shared desk with librarians and a 7m2 consulting room would result in a significant downgrade in the shire’s capacity to serve the residents of Yarrawonga and district.
Moira Shire Council is currently progressing planning permits and detailed designs for the precinct to be situated at the Yarrawonga Town Hall site but both the Steering Committee and Reference Groups will have the opportunity to discuss the project with the successful Detailed Design contractor when they have been appointed.
The new construction will see the demolition of the community hall but with a substitute space with a multipurpose room, rehearsal/changing room, commercial kitchen, storage space and two consult rooms to be built on the village green.
The library will use the space behind the town hall where the community hall currently stands, back to Hume St encompassing the land where old kindergarten, which has now been demolished, used to stand, as well as the village green where the current storage shed and portable are located.
Car parking will be offered as well as differing greenery spaces within the library precinct.
A view for the new concept is that both spaces can still be used independently ie. the commercial kitchen and library, but also as one.
The multi-purpose room, kitchen, storage and change rooms section of the plans would be built as stage one with the majority of the library built as part of stage two.
Mrs Wilson also posed questions about council’s budgeting of unforeseen circumstances relating to the new building and the stage heritage listings of the YPS site and community hall.
“Has council budgeted for the likelihood of unforeseen costs and consequences arising from attaching the new building to the northern and eastern sides of the town hall for which there is also an application for heritage listing?
“Why do necessary improvements to the town hall such as upgrading the ladies toilets need to be tied to a library project?
“Finally, why is council so worried about potential State Heritage listing of the former Yarrawonga Primary School site but rushing to spend money on a project which will require demolition of the Yarrawonga Community Hall, for which there is also an application for State Heritage listing?”
Moira Shire Council have until this Friday, April 17 to take advantage of a First Right of Refusal process to acquire the old Yarrawonga Primary School site after the Department Victorian Education and Training listed the site on February 18, 2020.