Friends in need

JENNA THOMPSON

TUESDAY Friendship Group co-ordinator Lina Brennan couldn’t believe her eyes when she received a letter from Kiama Council saying they had been ejected from Kiama Community Centre for the next three months.

“This has been a real blow to us,” she said.

“Everything we do here will have to be moved and things will have to stay in our cars.”

From yesterday (July 1) the Electoral Commission will be using the Community Centre, which has been home to Mrs Brennan’s group for the past 18 years, to conduct the upcoming Local Government Elections.

The move will also leave several other social groups who use the building to find different accommodation.

Kiama Council Director of Strategic and Commercial Services, Chris Quigley, said that at this stage most, if not all, groups had organised alternative venues.

“Unfortunately the Community Centre is the only council building that met the criteria of the Electoral Commission,” he said.

Electoral Commission Corporate Communications Branch spokesman Adrian Kerr said the Returning Officer, who was in charge of conducting the election and announcing the result, would use the Centre until September 30.

“It would be wrong to suggest we have asked council to evict any community group as we never specified that we wanted the hall,” he said.

“It’s up to council to nominate which community centre or facility they can offer us for election and we’ve accepted the offer of the Hindmarsh Community Centre.”

Based on key requirements, the Electoral Commission requires a space of 200sq m, disabled access, security for the ballot papers and room for people to vote.

Because Kiama has no town hall, the centre is inevitably the only option, forcing community groups to go elsewhere.

Mrs Brennan said the council had allowed them tables and chairs from the centre as they move to Minnamurra Church of England, but they will have trouble moving some of their less mobile members each week.

“It’s not a huge thing for them as it is the carers who have to sort out how to get everyone there,” she said. “It will be very hard.”

• What’s your view? Should Kiama residents lobby harder for a town hall? SMS the editor on 0420 847 990, email news@kiamainependent.com.au or write to PO Box 406, Kiama, 2533.