Hall backdown

By Tania Martin
KALORAMA residents have won a long-fought reprieve in the battle to save the town’s hall.
The Shire of Yarra Ranges last week agreed to put the sale of the hall on hold for the next three years.
The hall in Farndons Road, Kalorama, has been under a cloud for the past three years with the council suggesting that it should be sold.
In September 2005, the Mail reported that residents were furious over the proposed sell-off and since then residents have been rallying to save the hall.
But Councillor Noel Cliff, last week said it was time the council gave the residents a ‘fair-go’ to get the call up and running again.
“We have to give them a go and I thoroughly recommend we support them,” he said.
In a surprise move the council unanimously approved an alternative motion to give the residents of Kalorama time to fix up the hall.
The hall committee now have to develop a detailed business plan including a three-year budget that demonstrates that the hall can be financially sustainable.
More than 80 people attended the meeting last week to plead for the hall’s future.
Jean Blencowe of Kalorama said the hall was a great community asset and would be used for a range of activities including the town’s historical society, an art space and CWA craft groups.
The council last week agreed not to sell the hall and moved that the committee would cover the cost of any maintenance or upgrade works required.
But Rob Stephens of Monbulk said it was not right for the council to expect the hall committee to pay for such upgrades.
According to a council report the hall needs more than $50,000 spent on it to bring it up to a standard where it can be used.
Mr Stephens said the hall was a heritage building and that it was a State and Local Government responsibility to pay for any upgrades or repairs.
“It outrages me that the council is implying that the community should maintain the hall and make it a financially viable property – it should be funded from the council’s finances,” he said.
Cr Cliff has called for the council to help the group with accessing grants to help them get up and running.
“They can’t be expected to get money out of a well at the drop of the hat,” he said.
“I want us to give them a hand and the shire will come out way ahead.”
In a shock move Councillor Monika Keane has also supported the move to keep the hall.
In April last year, the Mail reported that Cr Keane was questioning the future of the hall because it needed restumping.
But she last week agreed that the hall committee needed to be given a chance to prove themselves.
“I think we should give them a go,” she said.
Cr Len Cox said if the council were to sell the hall it would end up being pulled down.
“There have been some good times up there and could be again,” he said.
“I think it’s well worth giving it a chance and giving the residents a chance.”