Lake Macquarie City Council does not own Morisset Memorial Hall, nor the land it stands on, and the hall owners have no intention of selling to facilitate construction of a multi-purpose community building.
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That was the message reiterated this week by the owners of the hall, the Morisset Memorial Hall and Literary Institute Incorporated.
The institute was responding to news in last week’s Lakes Mail that council would engage an architect to develop new designs for a multi-purpose community facility in the town that would “incorporate parts of Morisset Memorial Hall”.
In a letter to the editor in today’s Lakes Mail, the hall’s public officer Val Badham said the hall wasn’t for sale, and was protected by heritage listing.
“It is interesting that council continues to think that they can demolish parts of Morisset Memorial Hall,” Ms Badham said.
“This is simply not possible because the entire hall is heritage listed by both Lake Macquarie Council and the NSW government. It is also listed on Monuments Australia.
“Since April 2010, council has been told on many occasions that the hall cannot be purchased, but has consistently ignored all proof given to them.”
The council has plans to build the multi-purpose community building, including a library, on a site bounded by Dora, Station and Yambo streets.
Council has acquired the block of land next to the hall, which was the old Morisset post office site. And it is in the process of acquiring the block at 32 Yambo Street.
A heritage assessment of the hall found the building was of “high local significance”.
Council said that cultural significance of the hall would be taken into account in designs for the new facility.
“Council will engage an architect to explore options to retain part of the memorial hall building fabric as well as referencing the historical significance in the new building,” the council said.