Council chief executive Peter Brown said the centre had been reconfigured, so it could now be split into three separate meeting rooms.

He said the centre was also modernised.

“The building is about 40 years old,” he said.

“It was tired and was not functioning progressively – we needed to make it more usable and accessible.

“The centre is only used as a council chamber once a fortnight, so it needs to be usable for other times.”

Mr Brown said bi-fold doors meant the centre now included three meeting rooms, which could all be used at the same time.

“It will free up some space throughout the council offices,” he said.

Mr Brown said a curtain that hung on the back wall of the centre had been removed.

“It was 40 years old – we thought we could just clean it up, but it was too old,” he said.

Mr Brown said the centre refurbishment was part of a long-term plan to upgrade the council offices.

He said the offices had a lot of hallways and little rooms.

“It was originally designed for two councils, with the City of Horsham on one side and Shire of Wimmera on the other,” he said.

Mr Brown said he hoped all the meeting rooms, including the council chamber, would include audio and video equipment in the future.