A well-deserved upgrade for Bellbrook Hall
Published on 22 October 2021
An amenities block, accessibility ramp and car park have been installed as part of a much-needed renovation of the Bellbrook School of Arts Hall.
Kempsey Shire Council has unveiled a series of upgrades to Bellbrook Hall to improve the userability of the venue for community members and functions.
Inclusiveness and serviceability were front of mind during the project and saw the necessary construction of an amenities block and accessibility ramp, as well as upgrading the footpath and car park to provide safer access for residents and visitors.
Kempsey Shire Council Commercial Business Manager, Gayleen Burley, said it was rewarding to deliver a tangible benefit to this community who fought so hard during the 2019 bushfires.
“The importance of our communities having a local venue that can support a variety of events is one of the fundamental needs identified in Council’s Recovery Action Plan,” said Ms Burley.
“This is a wonderful venue in good times, but it is also important to maintain this Hall in preparation for future disasters, to ensure these small but resilient communities have support and services readily available when needed.”
Council was successful in receiving Federal Government funding from the National Recovery and Resilience Agency which $145,000 from this grant was allocated to building the amenities block for Bellbrook Hall.
Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie is pleased with the Council’s decision to upgrade Bellbrook Hall saying community spaces provided people with a sense of belonging and can be important meeting places during a disaster.
“Since 2020, the Liberal Nationals Government has provided Kempsey Shire Council $1.4 million through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements and I’m pleased that the Council has allocated some of that funding to upgrade the historic Bellbrook Hall.”
“I am advised that Bellbrook Hall was a meeting place during the Black Summer Bushfires and has provided a welcoming and safe space for people who are socially isolated, vulnerable and in need of support,” Minister McKenzie said.
Council also secured a grant of $35,000 from Phase One of the Australian and NSW Government’s Bushfire Community Recovery and Resilience Fund for the accessibility ramp, footpath and car park.
Member for Oxley Melinda Pavey said Phase One of the Bushfire Community Recovery and Resilience Fund was designed to deliver funding to eligible local councils for immediate, locally-led community recovery and economic activities.
“The program delivered $7.5 million, co-funded by the Australian and NSW Governments, to support local business recovery and assist our local communities in overcoming the economic and social impacts of the devastating bushfires,” Mrs Pavey said.
“The Bushfire Community Recovery and Resilience Fund is one part of the $4.5 billion overarching bushfire support program co-funded by the Australian and NSW Governments for bushfire recovery, response and preparedness in NSW.”