Funding for Garvoc Hall

Moyne has set aside $225,000 in the budget for a new Garvoc town hall to be built. Council is seeking state government funding of $500,000 while the Garvoc community will contribute $100,000. This community contribution will come from the sale of the existing Garvoc Hall.

Secretary of Garvoc District Residents Incorporated Adam Bellman said the current hall was 160 years old.

He said while the building was historic, it was also no longer practical.

"It just isn't fit for purpose any more," Mr Bellman said.

"It's not rodent proof, there are rats and mice getting in, and even snakes. We had a look at it and it would take $700,000 to get up to standard and then there would still be issues with parking, so a new building in a new location is the best option."

He said the hall had been well used by the Garvoc community and was a central meeting point during the St Patrick's Day fires. 

The new hall will be built on the opposite side of the Princes Highway, next to the Garvoc tennis courts and CFA shed. It will include a commercial kitchen, an office, toilets and showers.

Mr Bellman said an aim was to get a child care facility up and going in the new hall.

"Garvoc has 280 residents and there are a lot of young families," he said.

"It would be great to have child care closer to home so people don't have to drive to Terang or Warrnambool to access those services.

"We are also hopeful we will be able to lease out the commercial kitchen and we want to get organised tennis going again after a few years off. Having the new hall would help with all this and create a community hub."    

The investment in Garvoc was part of a Moyne budget that has an operating surplus of $1 million, a capital works program of $14.385 million and a 2.25 per cent increase in rates and charges. 

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