The project has been on the drawing board since 2012 with construction of the Jindera Medical Centre being completed in stage one.

A re-assessment of the scope of the multi-purpose centre was required when Greater Hume Shire ceased its aged and community services mid-way through last year.

In response, project architects Rob Pickett Design downsized the building to essentially cater for the council’s needs.

But in more recent times council staff agreed to make the facility more community-focused and investigated the creation of meeting rooms, a large multi-use space, a computer area with free WiFi access and offices which could be leased to solicitors and other visiting professionals.

The council will also create a customer service centre, attempt to attract a bank or building society, office space and playgroup areas for its childrens services and offices for staff involved with noxious weeds eradication and Compacks — a hospital patient discharge support program.

It currently has $1.6 million available to build the multi-purpose centre from the sale of the Jindera aged care hospital.

The council is paying about $70,000 annually in rent and other charges for its children’s services, Compacks and noxious weeds project.

Greater Hume management is confident the initial construction and ongoing maintenance of the building can be met from existing reserve funds and budget allocations.

Another factor in the deliberations is the possible removal of community support program funding from the council’s family day care service.

It receives about $150,000 in federal government funding, but significant changes are pending which will reduce the number of eligible services.

Council management also remains confident it can retain the existing funding levels as the only provider of childcare services.

General manager Steve Pinnuck said the project required rigorous pre-planning which had contributed to some delays.

“We are expecting the cost will be around $1.5 million,” he said.

Final designs for the multi-purpose centre will be submitted to the council for approval.