Eurobodalla Shire groups have combined in a last ditch effort to convince councillors to reject leasing out Batemans Bay Community Centre.
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Meals on Wheels. U3A and arts groups hope the matter will be rejected when it returns before the council. U3A's Ross Thomas said the proposal induced "disbelief" and "outrage" in members: "I do not think the council understands how much the community values the centre. Compared to the debate about whether we should have a 25m or 50m pool ... this issue is 10 times more emotionally infuriating. It will be years before other facilities become available. The efforts to find alternative venues might be well-intentioned, but futile. Meetings in Hanging Rock are unsuitable for older people like ours. Centres in Malua Bay and Tomakin are not well-serviced by public transport (many members are unable to drive) and lack audio-visual equipment." U3A said the centre was built for purpose and should remain just that - a community centre. Meals on Wheels manager Alan Russell said the centre must not be "for a selected and favoured group to monopolise and only allow the community to use it when they have time and space".
