Tuross residents flagged multiple storeys, floor-to-ceiling windows, a raised stage and good acoustics as essential features if the Kyla Park Hall were redeveloped.
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Earlier this year Eurobodalla Shire Council found white ants had severely damaged the building’s structure.
Engineers assessed the damage but council’s facility manager Chris Tague said most of the building, walls and some trusses were affected.
The hall has been closed to the public for some months, and Mr Tague said the estimated cost to restore it was $250,000.
“This issue is unfortunate for the local community but it gives us an opportunity to review the hall and its current uses, look at its potential... and redesign the building to allow the hall to be a focal point of the local community once again,” Mr Tague said.
At Wednesday’s community meeting, Mr Tague, recreation director Warren Sharpe and Councillor Keith Dance asked the community to nominate people to drive the redevelopment.
The committee will represent the Tuross Progress Association and the various sporting groups utilising the club facilities.
Tuross is also home to the historic Progress Association Hall, which has been a bone of contention in the community. Council made moves last year to reclassify the land on which the historically listed building sits, a precursor to its sale.
The plans were shelved and residents were divided on the topic.
Some were happy to sell the Progress Hall if council promised to protect the proceeds for the Tuross community, but others wanted to retain the hall, which is part of Tuross’s history.
The Progress Hall was up for discussion again on Wednesday, with Tuross Progress Association secretary Lei Parker suggesting the community funnel any sale profits into the Kyla Park Hall.
Mr Sharpe said the more groups that used the Kyla Park Hall, the more money council could justify spending on its renovation.
He said council wanted to work with the community to renovate the hall and to form a watchdog committee to be involved in the facility’s ongoing management.
But the room was full of cynics, and one resident said: “This town does not respect or trust council to be an effective manager”.
A seven-member committee will represent the soccer, cricket, sailing, exercise, scouts, and progress and business interests of Tuross residents at a meeting on October 14.
Cr Keith Dance will chair the meeting at 4pm, at the Tuross Head Country Club.
