At the council’s general meeting on October 24, councillors carried a motion made by chief executive Jessie Holmes to move ahead with purchasing the old CFA building at 62 Lascelles Street.

The council received a request from the Neighbourhood House committee to purchase the building and then on sell the property to the committee when they had obtained all of the necessary funds.

In her report Ms Holmes said a valuation of the property had been conducted.

“The valuation was in line with the costs that the Hopetoun Neighbourhood House forecasted,” she said.

“The Hopetoun Neighbourhood house has amassed a small deposit, have additional community pledges and have had their accounts audited showing a small profit in the last financial year.

“They have put together a strong proposal for the relocation of the project including the community gym and have secured ongoing funding from the Department of Health and Human Services for the provision of twenty – five hours per week for Neighbourhood House funding.”

Ms Holmes said the council had submitted an application to the Department of Health and Human Services for minor infrastructure funding and other funding opportunities were being explored.

“The proposal would see the Neighbourhood House located in a more central township position and the building needs a minimal amount of work to make it suitable for that purpose,” she said.

Yarriambiack Mayor Graeme Massey said the council had been working on the project for a while.

“We had to wait on government approval to buy the building, which we have done. We are arranging a plan to lease it back to the Neighbourhood House and they will then pay it off over the next couple of years,” he said.

The council asked for $70,000 to fund the project in its election advocacy priorities wish list.

The Neighbourhood House is currently located at the old Hopetoun primary school building. They also utilise the Men’s Shed building.

“They don’t have a home they can develop as their own,” Cr Massey said.

In October last year, the council approved an application from the CFA to develop the land at 148 Lascelles Street into an new emergency service facility. 

Hopetoun Brigade captain Danny McGee said he hoped the new building would be officially opened in March.

“We’re just waiting for the full services to be put in before moving in, things like the phone lines – that’s the only thing stopping us,” he said.

“Once it’s opened, it will be used as the operations centre for the community during times of  emergencies or major campaigns. It will be a fantastic facility for the region and a wonderful addition for the community.”

There are currently 65 volunteers – both active members and brigade members – on Hopetoun CFA’s books.

“We’re always looking for new recruits. We’ve had 10 start this year,” Mr McGee said.