The building requires significant renewal on key components, including roof replacement and electrical upgrades. It will be quicker, cheaper and easier for these works to be conducted with the site closed rather than working around current use.

The Town Hall will be closed and unavailable after September 2024. We estimate the roof and electrical works will take at least 18 months. This timeframe will be refined when we receive the building program from the builders. We will tender for the works mid-2024.

We will release a tender for the works in mid-2024 and results of the tender will indicate the final budget allocation. We are currently budgeting $1.5 million for the works, with $1 million already included in the current 2023/2024 budget.

Council meetings will take place at the new Council Chambers at 24 Vincent Street, where new, temporary offices will be located. This building will be fully compliant with accessibility requirements.

A library with meeting space, children’s area, art display, computer spaces, and of course, books. The project will also include Assembly Hall upgrades with audio visual, lighting and flexible spaces, to ensure an improved performing arts space.

Community engagements in 2013, 2016 and 2022 clearly identified these facilities as the most important aspects to be upgraded within Daylesford.

From previous community engagements we have learnt that the Daylesford Town Hall is the preferred location for community facilities. This well-loved significant building is an important community asset. Its refurbishment will maximise community use and access of the building and secure its ongoing role as a centrally located site.

A dedicated cinema space is not considered in this project. However, the upgrades of the Assembly Hall will provide a flexible space for the community including for audio visual projections.

Any future upgrades to the swimming pool will be considered separately as part of Council’s Aquatic Strategy. The works at the Town Hall will not impact use of the pool.

We will open expressions of interest to join a Project Advisory Group (PAG) in April 2024. The PAG will be involved throughout the project and represent community needs and views. Council will use its existing channels to keep the community informed (such as newsletters, media, advertising, social media), but will also work with the PAG to update the community on the project.

Broad community engagement on the design will occur twice throughout the design process, should this project progress. This would be at the beginning and end of the concept design stage, before detailed design.

No, the flagpoles will be relocated outside the Council Chambers at 24 Vincent Street, and not replaced at Daylesford Town Hall. This is to protect the building fabric and allow easier raising and lowering of the flags.

Yes, there would be a considerable scope of work required on the building and it would need to be closed while works are underway.

The central lift in the gallery walkway moves patrons between the lower ground level (Bridport Street) and ground level (Vincent Street). A second lift in the front section of the Town Hall is required to reach the top level of this part of the facility.

There will also be a requirement to limit movement within the building between hireable and non-hireable spaces. This will be reviewed further as use/s for the top floor of the Town Hall are considered.

The project is currently funded for the completion of an endorsed schematic level design. Council will consider the inclusion of the project in future budgets. The next phase of the project to be funded is the detailed design phase.

The endorsed schematic design can be used as collateral to apply for State and Federal funding for further design phases and construction.

A detailed, independent costing will be produced as part of the schematic design phase. Based on past projects delivered by Council, it is anticipated the construction cost will be $15-20 million. Delivery of the construction may be done in stages to match available funding.

The existing staircase in the Town Hall will be reviewed for structural integrity and viability. It may require works to improve identified deterioration. It is likely that the stair would not meet current design parameters (e.g. the height of each step), but the inclusion of a lift to use in lieu of the stairs is likely to be an acceptable compliance solution.

Advice will be sought from a heritage advisor and the project building surveyor.

In future stages of the project, a funding strategy will assess the potential to sell this asset to part fund the new library against other service requirements at that time that may be housed from the existing library site.

Similarly to the existing library site, the Duke Street site will be considered for its potential inclusion in a funding strategy for the new development.

This is an operational decision that will be reviewed as the project progresses. Council’s Creative Communities Officer will work closely with the local artistic community.

The redevelopment would be managed by Council Officers as is done at similar venues in the Shire.

The backstage area to the auditorium will be in the new construction and house a green room, amenities, storage and circulation areas. A stairway will connect the space to the multipurpose room if further space is required to support the use of the auditorium.

Feedback to date has been positive for the existing technical capabilities of the auditorium. The focus will be on honouring the heritage features of the space and a modest upgrade of the technical capabilities. Hirers will have the option of bringing in their own equipment to suit their needs. Solutions to make the stage accessible are still being evaluated.

The new library is 330 m2 (excluding toilet amenities). This is 80 per cent larger than the current library.

The new library will provide a dedicated children’s and youth zones as well as a flexible programming space to host library events. The plans accurately reflect the shelving requirements of the future projected collection. Shelving within the floor space will be on wheels to allow flexibility.

A further bookable meeting room will be available in the front section of the Town Hall.

The library will be complemented by gender neutral toilets and a breastfeeding room.

It is anticipated the new library will maintain similar opening hours to the current library. The new library will be designed to allow for Open Access, which allows inducted users to access the library for extended hours outside of staffed hours. Security features such as CCTV, secure swipe card access and speakers will be integrated into the new construction to facilitate extended access.

The facility will be staffed by library and customer experience officers.

Officers from other functions such as planning and building, environmental health or events may also operate from the facility when their role requires an interface with the public.

No, the Visitor Information Centre will remain at 94 Vincent Street.

Public toilet facilities will be available adjacent to the customer experience hub and within the library. These facilities will be accessible during operating hours. Operating hours are anticipated to be similar to the current arrangement of Monday to Friday business hours, and Saturday morning (library only). Community members inducted into the Open Access library initiative will also be able to access the library toilets during extended hours.

The closest after-hours public toilets are currently available 100 m away, adjacent to the Visitor Information Centre.

The proposed design includes a lift to the top floor of the front section of the Town Hall, the inclusion of a DDA toilet and potential inclusion of kitchenette facilities. It is not proposed to make significant alterations to the existing walls and doorways on this level. A range of uses may be suitable for the spaces on this level.

Council is seeking community suggestions for proposed uses of this level. Suggestions can be made when completing the community feedback survey.

The balcony is intended to remain accessible to the public. Further investigations are required that will occur in the next phase of the project.

The balcony will be reviewed by the project structural engineer, building surveyor and heritage advisor to ensure the balcony is structurally safe and compliant. Any upgrades required to make this space compliant will be designed to maintain the heritage value.