By Russell Bennett
EMERALD Community House could gain a new lease on life following November’s state election.
It will receive $150,000 in funding if the coalition comes away with a surprise victory.
Liberal candidate for Gembrook Brad Battin and opposition spokeswoman for community services Mary Wooldridge announced on Friday they would commit money to upgrade the community house’s neighbouring hall.
“This commitment is for the building to be re-stumped and to build a kitchen designed for local community groups to utilise,” Mr Battin said.
House co-ordinator Mary Farrow said she constantly receives letters from members of the public who want to prepare food for the local market, but can’t because of costs involved with setting up a commercial kitchen.
“What we want to do here is convert this kitchen to a place where people can come and do their food thing,” Ms Farrow said.
Mr Battin said the community centre would also form part of the Emerald Emergency Response Plan with provisions to cater for large groups of volunteers or locals after a major emergency.
“We want this to be a facility for post-emergency, somewhere where local residents and volunteers can come and have access to a full-sized, quality kitchen,” he added.
The hall’s kitchen is presently cluttered with a washer and dryer, because one of its walls is made of asbestos, and cannot be removed or extended. “And the last time I was here, you could actually see grass poking through the floor of the hall,” Mr Battin said.
“We’ve spoken to other people within the community and this centre is clearly a place of significance, and not just because it’s historic. It’s also for the future.
“This announcement is support for Mary and the community house, the CFA, the SES, businesses and local residents.”
