July 10, 2017
Blackbutt Memorial Hall’s car park will be under the spotlight at next Wednesday’s South Burnett Regional Council meeting.
Plans to build a bitumen car park beside the hall with associated infrastructure, including drainage and lighting, were thrown into doubt last week when Council failed in a bid to secure a State Government grant towards the project.
Council had previously announced it intended to spend an estimated $500,000 on upgrades after the hall was relocated, including a sealed car park, footpaths, street lighting and landscaping.
The hall’s connections to basic services such as water, sewerage and power were included in this plan.
Money would also be spent creating an entrance roadway and installing stormwater drains.
Council lodged an application with the State Government’s Building Our Regions (BOR) grants program for a 50 per cent contribution towards the project.
But it was not listed when successful Round 3 grants were announced last week.
“I understand the interest the relocation of Blackbutt Hall has in the community,” Mayor Campbell said.
“I have asked for a full report to be tabled at next week’s Council meeting to allow Council to make a decision on the best way to fund this project so we can get started on it as soon as possible.”
The Mayor said his own view was that the Council should proceed with the carpark and other infrastructure as originally planned.
He said Council had already set aside $250,000 for it in this year’s Budget, and it would be foolish to defer the balance until next year.
“We spend about $14 million a year on capital works,” the Mayor said.
“The extra money we need to carry out this project can be found in our own depreciation fund.”
Commenting on Facebook, Cr Gavin “Spud” Jones said he was determined to see the hall complex upgraded as originally planned.
He was disappointed the State Government had failed to match the Council’s own contribution on a 50-50 basis, but believed the investment by Council was sound.
“Trust me, this work will be completed within the next couple of months,” Cr Jones said.
In February, Cr Jones laid out a timeline for the project at a public meeting held at the Blackbutt Golf Club, saying he believed the hall would become “an integral part” of the Blackbutt community in its new location.
The timeline has been largely met, with an official handover from Blackbutt’s supermarket developer to the Council expected later this month.
Once the hall is back under Council control, work on the external infrastructure can begin.
Related articles:
- Hall Car Park Plan In Doubt
- Council Seeks New Hall Operator
- Tyre Blowouts Delay Hall Move
- Hall Carpark Costs Queried
- Developer Starts Blackbutt Project
- December Date For Supermarket
- Public Meeting For Blackbutt Projects
- Council Scales Back Supermarket Plans
- Meet The Future Blackbutt Hall
- Blackbutt To Get First Look At Hall Plans
- Supermarket Project Advances … Slowly
- No Change In Supermarket Plans
- Artist Records Hall’s Journey
- Blackbutt Supermarket Still On Schedule For Mid-2016
- Supermarket Dream Coming True
- Blackbutt Gets Its Supermarket
- Blackbutt Supermarket Still Progressing
- Supermarket Developer Could Be Known Mid-May
- Two Bids To Build Supermarket
- Blackbutt Supermarket One Step Closer
- Campaign Backs Woolies For Blackbutt
- Blackbutt Votes Yes To Supermarket
- Public Meeting To Discuss Supermarket
