Cultural injection

THE embattled former Winchelsea tearooms are to become a cultural centre, plans for the site have revealed.

The Winchelsea Shire Hall community working group prepared a report for Surf Coast council, describing plans for a new cultural centre that would open seven days a week and include a coffee shop.

“The CWG saw the building would become the Winchelsea Cultural Centre, incorporating a mix of functions including; visitor information display, area for local history and art works, a meeting place/cafe and showcase local produce, art and craft,” the group’s report read.

“It will capture economic benefits for the town and the broader Hinterland region.”

Community feedback received via a drop-in session and survey has demonstrated support for the group’s proposal.

According to a council report, “39 per cent love it, 39 per cent like it, 22 per cent can live with it and 0 per cent loathe it”.

Private business operators had run a tearooms at the Winchelsea Shire Hall under a commercial lease arrangement until April.

But after failing to negotiate a suitable lease agreement with council the tearooms closed.

In May, the council was presented with a petition of 289 signatures calling for the council to allow the tearooms operator to pay rent that was lower than commercial rates.

Council officers started the working group expression of interest process in March, with five community members included in the group.

Council officers recommended the council allocate $65,000 to the Winchelsea Cultural Centre Implementation Plan project.

The council last night endorsed the working group’s plan, meaning an interim facility officer will be appointed within six months.