Somerset Civic Centre

Somerset Regional Council has welcomed the announcement of $2 million Australian Government funding towards construction of Council’s $4.4 million 1,600 square metre, 350-seat capacity Somerset Civic Centre.

The Civic Centre is to be constructed in the central township of Esk and fills a void left by the loss of the 101-year old Lyceum Hall to fire in May 2010.

The announcement is also a much-needed boost to morale for the local area which suffered heavily in the January 2011 floods.

“Somerset is statistically the fastest growing local authority in southern Queensland with growth rates of 4.5% and 4.2% over the past two financial years and no doubt this was a consideration in the government choosing to support this project,” said Somerset Mayor Graeme Lehmann.

“Our application for funding also flagged the potential to use the new Civic Centre as a disaster evacuation centre.”

“Somerset Civic Centre will be very much appreciated by the whole community and this announcement follows months of extensive consultation by Council with the community, including local artists and cultural groups.”

“Somerset Civic Centre will enhance the liveability of the region attracting new residents and new business investment and employment opportunities,” he said.

The construction period will be approximately thirty weeks subject to weather conditions, with finalization anticipated in July 2012.

Full details of the Council’s grant application are available in the PDF documents below.

Mayor Graeme Lehmann offered his thanks to the Member for Blair, Mr. Shayne Neumann for his assistance with the proposal.

Somerset Civic Centre information, Somerset Civic Centre