Community Facilities Upgrade

The primary aim of this project is to undertake urgent repairs, maintenance and upgrade works recommended in the Condition Audit Report of 20 September, 2004, for the thirty-two (32) buildings comprising the Community Facilities portfolio.

Since 2003/04, $604,000 has been allocated to deferred maintenance on Community Facilities.  A further $696,000 has been allocated in 2005/06 as part of the Major Projects Resources Plan.  Over 30% of recommended work will be completed by the end of 2005/06. Work estimated at $2.8m will remain outstanding.

In order to ensure heritage elements of relevant properties are properly considered before proposed works are initiated, in particular, in relation to the old Coptic Church and Stone Villa sites, heritage assessments have been undertaken by external consultants.

As part of this project, Council engaged external consultants to prepare new Conservation Management Plans for each of the Marrickville, St Peters, Newtown and Petersham Town Halls.  These Plans were finalised in early 2007.

Inter-Divisional teams across Council are currently implementing a prioritised schedule of works to advance expenditure of the allocated funds for this project, with a specific focus on upgrades to Council's four (4) Town Hall buidings at Petersham, Marrickville, St Peters and Newtown.