Ms Noble would like to see two new toilets, showers and a washing machine installed in the space between the hall and the Rural Fire Station (RFS) in South Arm Road, South Arm.

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“It is five years since our community was affected by the wildfires of 2019,” she told the council.

“When it happened people from South Arm gathered at the hall and fire shed.

“A makeshift shower and washing machine were installed,” she said.

Ms Noble said a utility room at the venue would allow the hall to continue to serve as a safe place for locals when natural disasters occur into the future.

She said that although the hills were green again and some residents had returned and re-built after the Black Summer fires, the scars in the community remained.

“Neither the Shire Council or the RFS extend a hand to achieve this utility room,” a frustrated Ms Noble said.

“There is no commitment from either to help.

“Even worse the responsibility gets passed from one to the other and back again.”

Although the hall received some upgrades out of funding received after the 2019 fires, Ms Noble said that Council’s recent report on the requested utility room said any future work would have to be prioritised against all work requested by other halls.

“I’m asking you to please step up to the challenge with planning and support. Hear us! Help us and make it possible,” she said.

Councillor Susan Jenvey agrees that a utility room is a “critical piece of infrastructure and it should be prioritised”.

“I’m all for South Arm having a bit of love and dollars, spent their way,” Cr Jenvey said.

Council resolved to prioritise a wet room in future budgets for South Arm Hall and to receive a report outlining a list of projects and priorities for each Council hall.

By Ned COWIE