Warragul Exhibition Hall is closed after being declared a public safety risk.
Temporary fencing has been installed at the front of the Howitt St building and all bookings cancelled until further notice.
Baw Baw Shire Council community infrastructure director Ben Wood said the closure on Wednesday followed advice that structure of the walls had been compromised and posed a hazard.
Concerns are mostly around external walls and an internal ceiling, Mr Wood clarified.
"Council is awaiting an engineer's report, which will determine the next course of action," he said. "All future bookings have been cancelled until further notice."
Mr Wood said council had taken proactive steps to ensure the site remained safe for the community including bracing and securing the structure as well as installation of temporary fencing to prevent unauthorised access.
The hall was due for a $25,000 cladding upgrade but the works are now on-hold.
The closure has shut down Warragul Playgroup which is one of two regular users of the Warragul Exhibition Hall.
"We're really hoping that we don't lose the building," Warragul Playgroup president Jamie Reardon said.
Due to an old email being on file, Ms Reardon said they only discovered the closure when 15 families arrived and found temporary fencing up.
"It's a bit of a shock," she said. "Everyone was really upset, really sad. Just that we don't have a space and it all happened so quickly."
Having to cap their membership at 100 families and with a long waitlist, Ms Reardon said best case scenario was a return in April next year.
"I guess we're just in limbo at the moment," she added. "They (council) are looking for an alternative place but it's unlikely they have anything available."
"That's our biggest concern. There's not a lot around for little kids, especially indoors."
Mr Wood said Warragul Playgroup was separate to council but "we will work closely with organisers to support their ongoing operation."
News
Safety risk forces hall closure
Dec 17 2024
1 min read
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