Blackbutt’s Memorial Hall has been reassembled on its new site in Bowman Road, and seems on schedule to be handed back to the South Burnett Regional Council on July 1

June 9, 2017

The South Burnett Regional Council is seeking a new operator for the Blackbutt Memorial Hall.

The hall, which has been moved from its former site at the corner of Coulson and Muir Streets to a new location in Bowman Road, is on schedule to be handed over to the Council on July 1.

The Council will then reconnect the building to services and complete roadworks and landscaping at the new site, and it is expected the Memorial Hall will reopen for public use on August 1.

The completion of the hall’s relocation will finally bring an end to a complicated swap deal struck between the Council and supermarket developers Breezeway Pty Ltd in 2014.

Under the deal, the Council agreed to give Breezeway title to two Coulson Street blocks the hall sat on so the company could build a supermarket there, providing Breezeway successfully relocated the Memorial Hall to the Bowman Road site at no cost to ratepayers.

Until the deal was struck – and for some time afterwards – hall bookings and the building’s maintenance were carried out by the Blackbutt and Benarkin Community Council (BBCC).

BBCC struck its own deal with the Council to take over the hall’s management on July 1, 2012.

However, the group relinquished their agreement several months ago when the hall was closed for the move.

This was because the group was unable to use the hall to generate revenue, but still had to meet operating costs.

On Friday, a spokesperson for BBCC said the group did not wish to take up the hall’s management rights again, but understood another Blackbutt community group was interested in doing so.

Expressions of interest to manage the hall close next Friday, June 16.

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