YARRAWONGA library's move to the town hall is back on track with Moira Shire deciding to push on with the project including lodging a major funding application in coming months.
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Councillors voted 6-2 to resurrect the project on Wednesday night after putting it on hold to conduct another round of community consultation.
Despite about 20 per cent of the feedback forms distributed by council as part of its "broader consultation" being returned, 76 per cent were supportive of the town hall site, demolition of the community hall and old kindergarten buildings, and construction of a new library.
The decision is a major setback for the Yarrawonga Community Action Group which had members pack out the public gallery at the council meeting.
"Wrapping a new library around Yarrawonga's iconic town hall has been likened to putting mag wheels on a vintage Rolls Royce," president Jeanette Wilson said.
A petition mounted by the group opposing the move attracted 405 signatures, but a motion to press on with the relocation was moved and seconded by Cr Gary Cleveland and Cr Ed Cox.
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Cr Peter Lawless, who supported the motion, said the needs of those who opposed the move had to be addressed.
"We are not just building a library, we are building a community hub," he said.
Cr Marie Martin and Cr Kevin Bourke spoke against the town hall option.
"We are not looking to the future," Cr Martin said.
She said council's decision to register in the former school land was a game-changer which had to be further explored.
Cr Bourke said there would be a better response to community consultation in Picola compared to the larger population centre of Yarrawonga.
Yarrawonga-based councillor Peter Mansfield was an apology from the meeting, but his plan to make a statement on the issue via telephone hook-up was blocked by mayor Libro Mustica.
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