Northern Beaches Council will undertake a million dollar renovation of the Beacon Hill War Memorial Hall, with work starting later this year.

Council General Manager Mark Ferguson said the hall, which is nearly 50 years old, is run down and no longer provides adequate amenity for the large number of community groups using it.

“At least 10 community organisations and more than 1,000 people use Beacon Hill War Memorial Hall each week and the feedback we’ve received, along with Council’s own assessment, is that the centre is well past its use-by date.

“Northern Beaches Council places great value on community inclusiveness and it is clear that for the number of diverse groups using the centre – including some groups for people with disability – the level of amenity is simply not adequate.

“The hall is very hot in summer and cold in winter and the roof needs replacing,” Mr Ferguson said.

The million-dollar upgrade will modernise the Memorial Hall, improve access to the building for all users, provide new bathrooms, refurbish the floor, repair deteriorating concrete and generally bring the facility up to current legislative compliance standards.

“This upgrade will enhance and modernise the centre, bringing it into the 21st century so both current user groups and future generations can use it for years to come. 

“Unfortunately with a project of this scale we will have to close the centre for approximately five months while the work is carried out,” Mr Ferguson said.

Council is working with the centre’s users to try to find alternative arrangements during construction.

Beacon Hill Community Kindergarten Director Lesley Hubbard said they were working with Council towards a temporary relocation to Cromer Community Centre. “That means we will be able to continue our work with the children and their families and we are looking forward to the long overdue remediation works when we return to the upgraded centre.”

Beacon Hill War Memorial Hall is one of 43 community facilities owned and operated by Northern Beaches Council, which are hired to nearly 600 community groups and used by around 25,000 people weekly or more than one million a year.