Cash splash on hall

THE State Government will pour an extra half-a-million dollars into Pakenham’s $7.1 million hall and library development.
Peter Batchelor, the Minister for Energy and Resources and Community Development, visited the hall on Monday to announce the $500,000 boost.
The cash, from the government’s community support fund, has doubled the State Government’s contribution to the project.
The Federal Government has chipped in $2.5 million and Cardinia Shire Council is contributing a further $3.6 million.
Mr Batchelor said the development was part of a broader revamp of P B Ronald Reserve, which included refurbishments to the outdoor pool, skate park and playground.
“Shared-use facilities better connect the community, and a connected community is better able to deal with the good times and the bad,” he said. “The nearby bushfires in February highlighted the need for a community facility that can be used in times of crisis, in addition to being an important community asset for day-to-day social, recreational and learning activities.”
Cardinia Shire mayor Bill Pearson said the hall and library would be valuable assets to the shire, now growing at a rate of six families each day. “The new hall will provide meeting space for the community as well as a home for U3A and other groups,” Cr Pearson said.
Tenders for the work will be out in late November, and it is expected construction will begin next March.
The last function for the original hall has been booked for December and the council hopes the new complex will be open to the public by Christmas 2011.