A NEW community centre at Edenhope has taken a step forward with plans for a fundraiser in the pipeline.
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West Wimmera Shire has vowed to push forward with a new centre to replace the town’s hall, if the community raised money for it.
Edenhope community group Vision and Voice will work together with council and the Edenhope and District Community Bank to come up with a draft concept design, which to be finished early this year.
Mayor Annette Jones said the partnership among the organisations would shape the project to ensure a strategic and considered approach to the centre was achieved.
The new Edenhope Cultural and Community Hub will replace the town’s current hall, the Edenhope Mechanics Institute Hall, which has fallen into disrepair.
Council announced last year it would match community fundraising, dollar for dollar, up to $500,000.
Council will also apply for state and federal government grants to cover at least 50 per cent of the project.
Initial concept designs for the project included an auditorium, gymnasium, youth centre, meeting rooms and a tourist information centre.
“The input through the community engagement process has identified the current and future needs for the town, which has strongly influenced the brief provided to the architect,” Cr Jones said.
“We expect a second community engagement process will be in February to share the draft concept design and seek feedback.
“Simultaneously, Vision and Voice and the bank have been working collaboratively to set up a fundraising account that will have tax deductible status for contributions.”
Cr Jones said a fundraising campaign would start early this year.
“Businesses and the community are being asked to partner with the project,” she said.
West Wimmera Shire Council will apply for a grant for the project from the federal government’s national stronger regions fund.
“Although the time frame is quite tight, we expect a strong application will be put forward for consideration,” Cr Jones said.
“This is an encouraging step forward in the process and we look forward to working with the Edenhope and District Community Bank and Vision and Voice to see this project to fruition.”