Both the Nirranda and the Nullawarre North halls will be closed and disposed of.

The decision is part of the newly adopted Moyne Shire Council’s community meeting spaces strategy.

While the two halls have been identified as no longer being needed, they will be replaced by a new multipurpose facility at the Nirranda Recreation Reserve.

The facility is currently under construction and has a completion cost of $2 million. 

It is the only new facility planned for the shire but the council has pledged investment in existing halls.

Under the strategy, halls at Bessiebelle, Koroit, Mailors Flat, Port Fairy, Panmure, Hawkesdale, Laang, Mortlake, Orford, Yambuk, Hexham and Cudgee have been earmarked for major capital works projects.

Under the council’s long-term financial plan, the Reardon Theatre in Port Fairy tops the list of funding recipients with $400,000 to be spent on disability access, a kitchen upgrade and improved storage.

Similar works are recommended at Cudgee ($350,000), Mailors Flat ($350,000) and Panmure ($310,000). 

Cr Jill Parker said halls play a huge role in communities across the shire. “In most communities the hall is a real hub of activity and as a council we respect that and want to help maintain these buildings,” Cr Parker said.

“All the halls are used in different ways and some of the halls have small committees so as a council we want to contribute so the community gets time to enjoy their hall.

“Halls give a place to meet and celebrate and is at the very heart of the community and that really matters.

“In a lot of these small places there is a pub, a shop and a hall, and some of these pubs and shops are shut down and the hall is the only place for people to gather.” 

While the strategy acknowledges the positive impact of having community halls, it does not shy away from the fact many of the buildings have some issues attached to them.

Some are used less than 20 times a year and demand for community halls is not expected to grow over the next decade. 

The strategy looked at the 37 community halls located within the shire.

The ownership of these halls are a mixture between the council, the Department of Environment and Primary Industries and private trustees.

The location of halls is also of some concern with the southern part of the shire having 26 halls but the northern area with just 11.