Plans to extend Twyford Hall to provide a raked theatre and bigger stage have taken yet another knock back but there remains a flickering light at the end of a very long tunnel.
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The hall committee had put forward the long standing project for support from council for funding via the federal government’s National Stronger Regions Fund (NSRF) Round Two.
The support being sought was in the form of a loan of $1m and loan/grant of $687k.
However council was only able to offer support for two projects and chose the Merimbula Airport and North Bega Sewer as the projects to put forward for possible funding.
President of the hall committee, Bill Deveril was disappointed with the outcome. “Where we’re going to progress to, I don’t know,” Mr Deveril said. “I believe there is support for a loan from council and I have been told that council will talk to us further,” he said.
Speaking after the council meeting councillor Russell Fitzpatrick said that council did want to support the project and wanted to meet with the committee to try and find a way forward.
Cr Fitzpatrick indicated that finding all the money needed for the theatre in one go could be problematic and said he believed it would be better to try for a smaller amount.
The hall committee is able to service a loan of about $1.3 million through the annual rents received on shops and the hall use.
The problem for the hall committee is that the next stage of work is a significant one requiring in excess of $2 million.
Both the hall committee and Cr Fitzpatrick believe if work is seen to be progressing then further funding may be easier to obtain but no one wants to start major works without some surety that they can be completed.
