Sale Memorial Hall will be refurbished and modernised to help attract major events and increase usage of the facility, with Wellington Shire Council receiving a $486,538 grant under the Latrobe Valley Authority’s Community Facility Fund.
Latrobe Valley Authority’s Chief Executive Officer Karen Cain said the refurbishment project will have significant impact for Sale locals, as well as helping to enhance tourism and visitation in the region.
“Sale Memorial Hall is one of a handful of venues in Gippsland capable of hosting over 500 people, and this project will help ensure the facility has high standard amenities and technology to match.”
First opened in 1957, the Hall has potential to be a busy community space, but is currently under utilised, with the upgrades helping to bring the facility into the 21st century.
Wellington Shire Council Mayor Carolyn Crossley said the refurbishment of the Hall will complement other major projects in Sale such as the recent Port of Sale redevelopment.
“The upgrades will include refurbishment of amenities and stage change rooms, heating and cooling throughout, internal repainting, internal asbestos removal and installation of audio-visual equipment to bring it up to modern standards,” Ms Crossley said.
The Hall has secured one of the largest single grant amounts to come out of the Community Facility Fund to date, following a $500,000 grant announced last year for amenity upgrades at Sale Showgrounds.
The Latrobe Valley Authority’s Community Facility Fund supports community-led initiatives and projects that help make the region a great place to live and work.