Historic hall doors close with big bill

THE historic Buckrabanyule Hall will close after committee members decided it could not raise the $300,000 needed to bring the 1909 building up to modern regulations.

Hall committee secretary Gunta Bisenieks said a Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action inspection last year had left the hall committee with a financial burden that prompted a public meeting last month.

“Unfortunately, the outcome of the public meeting to discuss hall’s future concluded with the decision to close the hall. Another rural community hall bites the dust,” she said.

“The main issue contributing to the closure of the hall was the financial burden expected over the coming years for major repairs to the hall - approximately $300,000 - to bring it up to regulatory standard according to an inspection report carried out by DEECA last year.

“No amount of standard grants would cover this amount nor would these grants be successful in every instance and the amount of funds required are beyond the scope of the hall’s current finances.

“Anyone interested in forming a new committee would inherit this financial issue. Needless to say, there were no volunteers and not enough of them prepared to do so.”

Gunta said the public meeting had been attended by 10 people, including seven members of the final committee.

“Other issues affecting the closure was the diminishing usage of the hall by the community and, more to the point, the new CFA station that was built recently right next door to the hall which also acts as a community hub with space for meetings, a new kitchen and modern convenienc-