Glen Innes Severn Mayor Colin Price and Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall met with members of Hall committee last week to inform them that $28,269 in funding has been approved.

Emmaville Memorial Hall Committee President Clark Say said the funding was very welcome as the state of the roof had become a serious issue for the community. 

“The lead paint on the roof is slowly peeling off and therefore no longer safe to drink the tank water; the hall has many user groups and it’s reasonable for them to expect to be able to use the water at the hall,” he said. 

“Something needed to be done and we’re very grateful to get this financial support from the government and thank Adam for helping us secure it.”

Mr Marshall said the hall was an important focal point for the Emmaville community which was well used by a range of local organisations. 

“The hall is very well used by several groups and has also been earmarked by the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) as the Neighbourhood Safer Place, a gathering point for all locals in case of an emergency,” he said. 

“The roof was seriously damaged a few years ago in a hail storm and unfortunately the insurance only allowed the community to partially replace the roof. It’s now leaking quite a bit and the paint work is peeling, making it unsafe to drink the water collected it its tank. 

“As the hall has been identified by emergency services as the safest place to be in an emergency, the community needs to be confident the water is safe to drink and that any equipment stored in the hall won’t be damaged.”

Cr Price said the joint funding effort of the state government and the NSW RFS showed the importance of the hall to the community. 

“The community building partnership fund allocated $15,769 and the NSW RFS allocated $12,500 to the repairs, which will allow for the full job to be done,” he said

“I’d hope the replacement roof construction would be able to start almost immediately under the direction of the hall committee.”