Community & Business
29 March, 2022
Community assets under investigation
SEVENTEEN community facilities, including the iconic Majestic Theatre, will be the subject of investigations in the coming months as Tablelands Regional Council considers whether it wants to dispose of them.
Back in September 2020, the council decided to look at community facilities that were approaching end-of- life, were under-utilised, or considered to be surplus to community needs, with 25 originally identified as potentially surplus assets.
At last week’s meeting, 17 community facilities were put forward for officers to investigate, with a view to assessing them for potential disposal.
The facilities include:
the Millaa Millaa RSL Hall
Mt Garnet Town Hall
Herberton Tennis Club
Mt Garnet State Emergency Service Shed
Atherton CWA Hall
Atherton Community Centre
Herberton Town Hall
Malanda Majestic Theatre
Ravenshoe Marshall Park – Judo Club House
Millaa Millaa Golf Club
Atherton Hallorans Hill Observation Building
Malanda School of the Arts Building
Ravenshoe RSL Building
Atherton State Emergency Service Shed
Millaa Millaa Sporting Hall,
and Butcher’s Creek Hall.
Other facilities or assets on the initial list included the Atherton Performing Arts theatre building, which has been put aside until the lease expires in November 2025; the Atherton Tennis Club, which applied for a 10-year lease in April 2021 that was refused, and instead granted a licence to operate; Millaa Millaa Golf Cub, which was put aside until the lease expires in November 2025; Mt Garnet Rural Fire Brigade Shed, which is now leased by the Public Safety Business Agency; and nine lots of land (in Mt Garnet, Atherton, Malanda, Millaa Millaa, Innot Hot Springs, and Ravenshoe) which have already been sold.
The Yungaburra Memorial Hall was also on the original list and council had voted to dispose of the building until the Yungaburra Men’s Shed put its case to the council to lease the facility.
The report to council identifies that community engagement must be undertaken in relation to the Majestic Theatre, Herberton Town Hall, Millaa Millaa RSL Hall, Mt Garnet Town Hall, Herberton Tennis Club, and Butchers Creek Hall before any further decisions can be made.
During last week’s meeting, Councillor Dave Bilney moved to reassure the community and users of the facilities targeted for investigation.
“I just want to stress that just because the buildings were listed for consideration for disposal does not mean they will go,” he said.
Deputy Mayor Cr Kevin Cardew agreed saying “it’s just a list to identify them for investigation and community consultation.”
A project plan will now be developed, including a schedule of works, resource allocation, communication and engagement plan, and cost estimates to undertake the investigations.
