Funds for new hall and library

By Melissa Grant
And the project received a major boost yesterday (Tuesday) when Minister for Infrastructure, Regional Development and Local Government Anthony Albanese announced the Federal Government would tip in $2.5 million to rebuild the two facilities.
The Pakenham Hall, built in 1959, will make way for a new building which will house a library, a multi-purpose hall with function and stage area, five meeting room spaces and a large community kitchen.
It will also incorporate a facility to be used in the event of emergency and bushfire relief operations, and provide a new home for Pakenham U3A.
The announcement comes a month after the council notified the public of its intention to sell the current Pakenham Library site to pave the way for an $80 million retail hub. The original library was built in the 1980s.
Cardinia Shire mayor Bill Pearson said the development would consolidate PB Ronald Reserve as a community asset.
He was pleased the Federal Government was supporting the redevelopment, one of more than 3000 projects being funded through its Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program.
“This is probably the best bit of funding we’ve had in a couple of years,” Cr Pearson said.
Graham Treloar, secretary/treasurer of the Pakenham Hall since 1972, was hopeful the new hall would still be highly accessible to the community.
“I’m happy as long as it’s on the same site and the same size or bigger,” he said.
“I would be wanting to retain the same price structure and patronage and not alienate people.”
Under the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program, work on the library/hall redevelopment has to begin by 1 September.
The council is also seeking State Government funding for the PB Ronald makeover project.