Geeveston Town Hall’s future in good hands with Controlling Authority to be formed

A new management model for the Geeveston Town Hall will be established to secure its future as a vibrant community hub and tourist destination.

The Geeveston Town Hall Controlling Authority will take over from the Geeveston Town Hall Company in managing and operating the Hall.

At its 27 January Ordinary Meeting, the Council resolved to wind up the Geeveston Town Hall Company and transition existing Board Members to the Geeveston Town Hall Controlling Authority as foundation members.

The decision follows consideration of a range of options for a new management model for the Geeveston Town Hall. The options tabled were based on the results of the community engagement Council undertook in 2020.

“It was agreed that the Geeveston Town Hall Controlling Authority is the best option for the future management and operation of the Town Hall, because it meets the community’s desire for the activities of the Hall to be led by a skilled group of local volunteers”

“Council met with the Geeveston Town Hall Company before the Council Meeting to ensure the members were confident in the direction being proposed,” said Huon Valley Council Mayor Bec Enders.

“It was agreed that the Geeveston Town Hall Controlling Authority is the best option for the future management and operation of the Town Hall, because it meets the community’s desire for the activities of the Hall to be led by a skilled group of local volunteers who have an arrangement with Council to ensure the Hall continues to meet the desires and vision of the local community.

“Council will now work with the Geeveston Town Hall Company Board to draft rules for the way the Controlling Authority will conduct business. The rules will be based on the existing Geeveston Town Hall constitution, as these already reflect the community’s vision for the Town Hall. The rules will be tabled at a future Council Meeting for consideration.”

The Geeveston Town Hall Controlling Authority will be responsible for managing the list of key priorities identified by the public through community engagement that occurred in 2020. That being the Hall:

Should be a central community hub that continues to capture tourism Be a venue for events for local/tourism purposes that encourage community enterprise, creativity and connection Should generate revenue to manage expenses of operations A lift should be installed

Fortunately, our communities’ wish for Council to install a lift so the upstairs area of the Hall can have greater use, has been funded through the Tasmanian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program. Council thanks the Tasmanian Government for funding this important piece of community infrastructure.

The lift will take about 16 weeks to arrive, during which time Council will engage a building surveyor for the project and apply for a building permit.

For more information about the decision, view the 27 January Council Meeting reports on the Meetings page.