Surf Coast Shire Council is moving ahead with a development plan for a new multi-purpose community hub at Deans Marsh Memorial Reserve to meet the needs of existing and future generations.
At its March meeting at Deans Marsh Community Hall the Council resolved to adopt a Deans Marsh Community Hub Facility Development Plan, which has been shaped by extensive community consultation.
The new hub would replace an existing hall and associated extensions including the Community Cottage which are much loved but have significant structural issues. The hall has undergone eight separate extensions or additions during the past 60 years and is no longer fit for purpose now and in the future.
Estimated cost of a new facility is $8.4 million to $8.7 million, depending on how construction is staged.
The new building would seek to maintain the unique characteristics and local significance of the existing site in the town’s memorial reserve, with environmentally sustainable design including:
- Multi-purpose hall with permanent stage and an existing Marjorie Lawrence memorial replica stage curtain
- A large community activity space
- Community office and meeting spaces
- Café kitchen
- Multi-use meeting and consulting spaces
- Early years centre
- Celebration of elements of the existing hall including ceilings and gabled roof, and
- Transparency through the building north-south and east-west.
The building would also serve as an Emergency Relief Centre.
Community engagement on the hub has resulted in more than 500 interactions across two years including input from a Project Steering Group with representatives from Deans Marsh Community Asset Committee, Deans Marsh Cottage and Childcare, the Council’s Positive Ageing and Advisory Committee and Deans Marsh Primary School.
“We appreciate how much the existing community hall and cottage mean to people, providing a hub at the heart of Deans Marsh community, and thank community members for sharing their thoughts during our engagement period,” Cr Gary Allen said.
“Those thoughts have helped shape our development plan, with recognition that a new fit-for-purpose facility will be needed to enable the hub to continue and grow at the centre of community life for generations to come.”
The Council also resolved to receive a report by July 2026 detailing options for future development of the hub if sufficient external funding has not been successfully sourced to deliver at least stage one.
