As steady progress continues on the construction of the Trentham Community Hub, it is time for the community to consider the ultimate name for this new facility. We invited suggestions from the community during August. Submissions have now closed.

The Project Advisory Group will review the results and provide a recommendation to Council for consideration at the Council meeting in October.

Thank you to everyone who made a submission.

Background

The Trentham Community Hub will be a significant addition to the Coliban Ward community, incorporating elements of the original Trentham Mechanics Institute alongside new modern facilities.

The Hub, located at 66 High Street in Trentham, will include a new Community Library, Visitor Information Centre, Council Customer Service Counter, meeting rooms, and multi-functional Community Hall.

A Project Advisory Group (PAG), made up of community members, is in place to help achieve community needs, as well as facilitate engagement with the broader community on the project. Council is extremely grateful for their contribution.

Council committed funding to the design of the project, and conducted community consultation on a draft design. External funding for the construction stage of the project was granted by the State Government and the Ballarat-based company S.J. Weir is constructing the facility.

It is estimated that the new Trentham Community Hub will be completed in early 2024.

The reframing of the deteriorated north and south walls of the Mechanics Institute Hall is complete and the window and door openings in the brickwork of west wall is complete. Steel sub-floor framing of the new section of the facility has commenced, giving the community a great sense of the overall building size.

Extremely variable soil conditions along the western boundary of the site have delayed the carpark works. A new retaining solution for this boundary has been engineered and will be scheduled for construction.

The project remains on track to be delivered in early 2024.

Sub-surface works have commenced on the car park, with the area excavated to the future pavement level. Stormwater drainage pipes and pits have been installed. Underground electrical infrastructure will soon follow to allow for car park lighting and an electrical vehicle charging station. The car park works have been brought forward to make the most of the warmer weather. The Hub is still on track to be completed early next year.

The next steps for the project are:

• Relocation of the site facilities to the High Street end of the site in December/January. This will allow for works to begin on the new carpark to make the most of the warmer weather.
• The carpark asphalt will be laid later in the project.
• Construction of the retaining walls on the western boundary.
• Preparation of the enclosure for the back-up generator. Fabrication of the remaining screw piles and structural steel.

Recent works include the construction of concrete masonry to support the undercroft storage space and blockwork retaining walls over footings at the northern end of the facility. This rear entrance to the Hub will have steps leading to the car park area and will be intertwined with mobility ramps and planter boxes. As well, the existing window openings in the old hall have been enlarged along the western wall to allow for more light to penetrate into what will become the new library space.

Project Update - June 2022

Works have commenced on site with trees removed, demolition of the old shedding to the rear of the existing building and the sewer realignment complete.

The contractor has established the site compound with some site levelling, perimeter fencing and the installation of a site office and worker facilities.

Primary demolition of the brick additions to the Mechanics Institute Hall will commence soon.