BID STILL ON FOR A KIAMA TOWN HALL

Kiama Mayor Sandra McCarthy is hoping for a relocation of the current ambulance station.

KIAMA Council is hoping to turn the Kiama Ambulance Station site into a town hall if the state government heeds calls to relocate the service from its current location.

The 2002 Kiama Charrette identified a cultural or performing arts hall as one of Kiamas key needs and the ambulance station as a potential location.

The Charrette proposed a 300-seat performance hall combined with a theatrette, recording studio, caf? and toilets.

The proposal encompassed the space from both the ambulance station and adjoining house, which has been vacant for a number of years.

Under the plan no land would be taken from Hindmarsh Park with the proposal actually returning 250 square metres of to the area.

It really is a great spot for this sort of cultural arts centre, Kiama Mayor Sandra McCarthy said.

It is close to business and it would provide a great place for concert recitals and theatre performances, there is no doubt this facility would serve the community very well.

In a bid to help aid the relocation of the ambulance station to the vacant site next to the fire station in Terralong Street council has offered $150,000 to help with the construction of a new building while also offering to make the land available on a long term lease.

We need to ensure that the ambulance station in Kiama has a long and successful future here in Kiama and to keep up with modern technology requirements we definitely need to upgrade to new premises, she said.

" A suggested sketch of a multi function town hall on the Kiama Ambulance Station site as suggested by the Kiama Charrette in 2002.

Council sees $150,000 as a very generous contribution and we hope the state government come back with a positive response.

Kiama MP Matt Brown has thrown his initial support behind the relocation of the station and has written to the Planning Minister Frank Sartor seeking a review of the matter.