By Joshua Wells
THE Mitchell Shire Council is expected to receive up to $200,000 from the state government to help rebuild the Tallarook Mechanics Institute.
During a public meeting on Tuesday, May 15, Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes made the announcement to assist in the rebuild.
The funds will come from the Community Support Fund and will be directed to the Mitchell Shire Council.
Mitchell Shire Council mayor Rhonda Sanderson said the extra funds will open more doors for the community.
“While the building was well-insured, this extra funding opens up many possibilities for the community to consider and provides some assistance to the Committee of Management to help replace lost contents,” she said.
“I’d like to thank Jaclyn Symes MP and the Victorian Government for making this funding possible and for their fantastic support of our community.”
Ms Symes said she was working with Treasurer Tim Pallas to finalise the deal which will provide a boost to the community in shock.
“I spoke to the treasurer and asked for up to $200,000, I am confident it will be announced in the coming weeks,” she said.
Following two community meetings following the fire, a rebuilding committee is now beingestablished in partnership with Council and the Committee of Management to work on plans for the rebuild.
Mitchell Sanderson said there were many great ideas in the community about the rebuild and the extra funding meant it was possible to consider a range of possibilities.
“Through the recovery committee we’re asking people to think about things such as whether they would like to move the hall slightly to avoid the creek which has caused some flooding problems in the past or whether they’d like to move the location within the site even more,” Cr Sanderson said.
“The hall has a great history of all sorts of community uses over the years and we’d like to know what type of uses people would like to see for the future.
“We’re also looking for ideas and suggestions about the best ways to involve people in developing these plans to ensure as many voices and ideas as possible are considered in the early planning stages.”
With demolition of the iconic Tallarook Mechanics Institute complete, the Tallarook community is coming together to prepare plans for a new hall.
Following two community meetings, a rebuilding committee is now being established in partnership with Council and the Committee of Management to work on plans for the rebuild.
Cr Sanderson said there were many great ideas in the community about the rebuild and the extra funding meant it was possible to consider a range of possibilities.
“Through the recovery committee we’re asking people to think about things such as whether they would like to move the hall slightly to avoid the creek which has caused some flooding problems in the past or whether they’d like to move the location within the site even more,” Cr Sanderson said.
“We’re also looking for ideas and suggestions about the best ways to involve people in developing these plans to ensure as many voices and ideas as possible are considered in the early planning stages.”
The rebuilding committee will meet at 6pm on Tuesday, May 29 at the Tallarook Recreation Reserve Pavilion.