Benalla Rural City Council has endorsed the Benalla P-12 College Barkly Street Campus as the preferred site for the Benalla Indoor Recreation Centre (BIRC) Redevelopment project. This decision was made at the Council meeting held on 24 April 2024.
The Council's decision follows a comprehensive community engagement process that took place between December 2023 and February 2024. The engagement process, including online and paper survey options received 716 responses and Benalla Rural City Mayor, Cr Danny Claridge, said the Benalla P-12 College Barkly Street Campus emerged as the most favoured site after receiving 55.9 per cent of the online votes and 51 per cent of the overall votes.
"The Council went into this process with an open mind, and this is evident by the decision at Wednesday's meeting to endorse the community's preferred location for the redevelopment," Cr Claridge said.
"The Council and Brand Architects are committed to listening to your voices in shaping the future of the Benalla Indoor Recreation Centre Redevelopment through active engagement and regular communication."
"Your insights will play a crucial role throughout all stages of development for our communities redeveloped stadium, reflecting a shared commitment to building a facility that truly meets the needs and aspirations of our vibrant community," Cr Claridge said.
"The BIRC redevelopment project, funded by a $15 million grant from the Victorian State Government, aims to create an inclusive sporting hub for all ages, promoting active and healthy lifestyles."
"This modern facility will address the limitations of the ageing BIRC, which is now 40 years old and faces challenges in meeting community expectations and sporting code compliance."
The Council also resolved to establish a Steering Committee to oversee the progress of the BIRC Redevelopment project. The committee will comprise representatives from Council, user groups, and community members.
The Council will now prepare a formal proposal to the Department of Education for its consideration. A report on the Department of Education's response will be presented to the Council in due course.
