VAL Badham insists this is not the beginning of the end for Morisset Memorial Hall.
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It was, she said, just the beginning of a fight she’s prepared to take to Lake Macquarie City Council to repair and ultimately save the historic building.
For four months, the main section of the hall has been closed to the community because of damage sustained in the roof cavity.
Four metal beams have been erected to support the sagging ventilation panels in the ceiling.
Ms Badham is the public officer and treasurer for the Morisset Memorial Hall Trust which owns the hall.
The trust alleges the damage to the building was caused by council’s demolition of the old Morisset Post Office on July 11, on the block next door, and it wants councils to pay for the repairs.
Council denies responsibility for the damage and, in any case, said it wouldn’t fund repairs to a building it doesn’t own.
“On the Tuesday that this happened, the hall was full of people,” Ms Badham said.
“The noise and the movement of the heavy machinery was causing the hall to shake. When the Newcastle earthquake struck (in 1989) it caused the same damage – some of the ceiling ventilation panels came away from the roof.
“That’s what’s happened again when these huge machines shook the place in July. That extended the damage in the ceiling.”
Furthermore, Ms Badham wants council to compensate the trust for lost income incurred while the hall has been closed.
A spokesperson for the council said the demolition of the old post office was not to blame.
“Council undertook a full risk assessment prior to the demolition works commencing at the post office site, and council does not believe the demolition caused the damage to the hall,” they said.
“Previous investigations undertaken in late 2015 as part of the Heritage Assessment indicated pre-existing structural issues with the roof, and a number of recommendations were suggested by an independent engineer in order for the roof structure to maintain its integrity.”
Ms Badham said the engineer’s report did not raise any issues relating to the roof structure, but said the ceiling required some repairs.
She said the hall committee set about applying for a state government heritage grant in 2016 to fund the ceiling repairs, but first approached the council for a necessary letter confirming the heritage status of the hall, and council’s support for the funding application.
The council did not provide the letter, and the funding opportunity was lost, Ms Badham said.
Council said there was good reason why it couldn’t provide the letter.
“Council advised the committee that a heritage support officer would be able to offer guidance on the grant application, once supporting information for the project was provided to council. No further supporting information was received from the hall committee,” they said.
The hall, on Dora Street, occupies a key site featured in the council’s original plans for a civic hub including a new library and town centre in Morisset.
Council has been acquiring properties to facilitate its plan.
“Council wants this hall. It’s as simple as that,” Ms Badham said.
Meanwhile, the building must remain closed until council is satisfied the hall does not pose a safety risk.
“Council has offered to assist the Morisset Memorial Hall Trust to provide users with alternative locations for their activities,” the spokesperson said.
